Rivers Crisis: Pro-Wike Faction Calls on Tinubu to Remove Bwala

A pro-Wike political faction, the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM), has urged President Bola Tinubu to remove his media aide, Daniel Bwala, over what it described as an “unwarranted” verbal attack on the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.

The RRM, together with 40 affiliated groups in Rivers State, accused Bwala—Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communications—of undermining the Presidency with his remarks on the Rivers political crisis.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt and signed by Johnson Georgewill and Sarima Akpata, Director-General and Secretary of the RRM, respectively, the group alleged that Bwala still maintained loyalty to his former principal, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, despite serving in Tinubu’s administration.

“As a group, we are not surprised by this recent public embarrassment by a supposed spokesman of the President on the Rivers State political matter, because we know Mr. Daniel Bwala as someone who speaks from both sides of his mouth,” the statement read.

The group questioned Bwala’s role during the 2023 general election, pointing out that Rivers was the only state in the South-South and South-East won by President Tinubu. They also claimed that Bwala targeted Wike due to the minister’s influence in Atiku’s 2023 defeat.

“Mr. Bwala appears to be on a mission to undermine the FCT minister, as Atiku’s loss in 2023 was significantly influenced by Minister Wike,” the statement said.

The RRM further criticised Bwala for commenting on Rivers politics despite not being involved in the agreements between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Wike following the lifting of emergency rule in the state.

“It is disappointing that Bwala, who has no political weight in Nigeria, would publicly denigrate the FCT minister and discredit his achievements, which ultimately impacts the President’s image,” the group added.

The RRM reaffirmed Wike’s leadership in Rivers State politics and his role as head of President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” structure in the state, warning Bwala to avoid involvement in Rivers affairs.

“RRM therefore calls on President Tinubu to dismiss Mr. Daniel Bwala for misrepresenting the Presidency on issues concerning Rivers State, which the President has already addressed through agreements,” the statement concluded.

The group also rejected claims that Bwala sympathised with Atiku and vowed to rally support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections in Rivers State, the South-South, and beyond.