Lere Olayinka criticises Ikenga Ugochinyere over his comments on the political situation in Rivers State, accusing him of being driven by financial interests

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has strongly criticised House of Representatives member Ikenga Ugochinyere over his comments regarding the ongoing political developments in Rivers State.

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In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, Olayinka accused Ugochinyere of being dissatisfied with the recent dissolution of local government structures in Rivers State.

According to Olayinka, Ugochinyere’s concerns stem from the financial benefits he was receiving due to his political ties, which have now been cut off as a result of the dissolution.

“As a political player, it is normal for Ugochinyere to express concerns over the dismantling of a local government structure that his party, the Action Peoples Party (APP), helped to establish in Rivers State.

From the now-removed council chairmen, we know how much was involved, and now that has come to an end,” Olayinka remarked.

The Senior Special Assistant also dismissed Ugochinyere’s previous comments on the Rivers State House of Assembly crisis, particularly his prediction regarding Speaker Martins Amaewhule’s access to the state budget.

Ugochinyere had claimed that Amaewhule would never see the state’s budget, despite his boisterous predictions that the Assembly members would not return.

However, Olayinka pointed out that the situation had turned out differently, with the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, navigating the realities of governance effectively.

Olayinka further criticised Governor Fubara’s handling of the state budget presentation process. He argued that the governor had bypassed due process by not communicating properly with the Speaker about the appropriate time for presenting the budget.

“If not for political grandstanding, shouldn’t the governor know that the proper thing to do was to write to the Speaker and wait for a response on when to present the budget?” Olayinka questioned.

In his final remarks, Olayinka claimed that Fubara’s actions indicated a focus on public perception rather than the effective governance of Rivers State. “The governor is only playing to the gallery and creating content for social media,” he stated.