The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said on Saturday that he would not stop the Rivers State House of Assembly from performing its duties.
The former Rivers State governor was reacting to the current face-off between the lawmakers, his loyalists, and Governor Siminilayi Fubara.
The governor and the lawmakers have been battling for control of the state since September 2023.
The disagreement culminated in the defection of 27 lawmakers led by Martins Amaewhule from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) the same year.
Angered by the defection, the governor and his party approached the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare their seats vacant and conduct fresh elections in their constituencies.
Efforts to resolve the crisis have met a brickwall with both parties refusing to shift grounds on their demands.
Wike, who spoke at a thanksgiving/civic reception in the Asari-Toru local government area of the state, said he ensured a smooth transition of power to Fubara at the end of his tenure in May 2023.
The minister lamented that Fubara surrounded himself with people who wanted to become the governor and did not want the best for him.
He said: “Assembly people should do their work. Whatever they deem necessary that is constitutional, they should do. I’m not going to stop anybody from carrying out his or her powers. I will not do that.
“It is not to abuse us. You can abuse me as much as you want, and let me tell you, I have never bothered myself because abuse does not kill anybody. What is important is the result. Is it not?
“Who has high blood pressure now? Not them? We we dey sit down dey enjoy. They have high blood pressure. This is what I was avoiding. I said look, don’t go through this route. They told you to seize Assembly members’ salaries and allowances for more than one year.
“Look at Danagogo (Tammy), who wanted to be governor. He was so pained that he was not given the ticket. He was the one following the governor, and he did not know. He will lead him to hellfire.
“You (Fubara) surrounded yourself with people who wanted to be governor, whom I said ‘no’, these people don’t mean well for Rivers State.’ They are the ones surrounding you, giving you advice. Do you think you will succeed? They will give bad advice, and look at what bad advice is doing to you. You are already down 2-0, and there’s more to come. “