Mohamed Garba
The founder of the One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji, has lauded President Bola Tinubu for his intervention in the escalating political crisis between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, calling the move a “perfect antidote” to reduce tensions in the oil-rich state.
In a statement issued Thursday from Ibadan, the spiritual leader urged both factions to prioritize peace for the sake of Rivers citizens and Nigeria at large. The commendation follows President Tinubu’s invocation of constitutional provisions to declare a six-month suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly on March 18, 2025.
The decision came amid a deepening feud between Fubara and Wike, his predecessor and political benefactor, which has paralyzed governance and sparked fears of violence in the state.
In his signed statement, Maharaj Ji emphasized that the conflict only harms Nigeria’s impoverished masses, who bear the brunt of political instability. “The Wike vs Fubara clash, like others before it, will end, but the poor will remain trapped in penury,” he said. “Tinubu’s intervention has cooled tensions, and for that, he deserves praise.” The spiritual leader dismissed the feud as unnecessary, attributing it to “godfatherism and self-satisfaction”—common pitfalls in Nigerian politics.
He stressed that the real adversaries are not individuals like Wike, Fubara, or Tinubu, but systemic issues enabling corruption and inequality. “The enemy is the ultra-evil agenda exploiting divisions,” Maharaj Ji warned. Maharaj Ji appealed directly to Wike and Fubara to reconcile, urging them to “sheath their swords” and collaborate for Rivers’ progress. “Instead of fighting, they must unite against the forces threatening Nigeria’s peace,” he said, adding that prolonged strife would only empower those profiting from chaos.
The statement also emphasized the need for national cohesion, describing Rivers State as a microcosm of Nigeria’s political challenges. Maharaj Ji’s remarks align with growing public fatigue over elite power struggles amid rising poverty and insecurity.
This marks Tinubu’s first direct intervention in a state-level crisis since taking office, testing his administration’s approach to resolving political disputes. Analysts warn that without lasting reconciliation, the suspension could deepen divisions ahead of the 2027 elections.
