Former spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign council, Daniel Bwala has warned president Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his allowing Nyesom Wike undermine Rivers state government. He said president Tinubu inability to stop former governor Nyesom Wike from his selfish pursuit in Rivers state, has adverse effect on the president’s image in the Niger Delta region of the Nigeria’s federation.
Daniel Bwala through his X handle, while reacting to a video in which the governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, relinquished his seat to his political godfather, Rabiu Kwankwaso at an event, chided former governor Nyesom Wike over the manner he is trying to use federal might in Rivers state to undermine the authority of governor Sim Fubara amid his fallout with him.
Daniel Bwala stated that Nyesom Wike who has the backing of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu use of threat and attempt to ground Rivers state, sends negative impression about president Tinubu, undermines the president’s push for an actual local government autonomy as well as affects negatively, the political chances of the president ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He wrote: “See the Governor of Kano out of his own volition gave his Governors seat to Kwankwaso @KwankwasoRM to sit at an occasion. How I wish Wike @GovWike would learn and know that leadership is not by threatening @SimFubaraKSC and grounding the state, but by example of humility.
“I wish Wike knew that partnering with Fubara would enhance @officialABAT image and chances in not just Rivers, but the entire Niger delta come….
“Isn’t it ironical that President Tinubu’s landmark achievement of local government autonomy is being subverted in Rivers State?”
However, the timing of Daniel Bwala’s statement has been questioned by some Nigerians. He is accused of being disgruntled by his inability to secure ministerial appointment as he had lobbied to be included in Tinubu’s cabinet but failed.
Daniel Bwala who had served as a close ally to former vice president Atiku Abubakar surprised many when he made a switch to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar’s political rival. He has since then been canvassing for support for president Tinubu’s administration.
According to speculations, Daniel Bwala’s inability to earn himself a ministerial appointment in recent cabinet reshuffle by the president, made him leave Nigeria for US. Speculators also suggest that he is becoming critical of president Tinubu due to how the president ignored his sought to be made a minister in his cabinet.
While Daniel Bwala has commended the relationship between governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State and his political godfather, Rabiu Kwankwaso, reports say their relationship have gone sour. According to some reports, governor Abba Kabir currently feels unhappy with Rabiu Kwankwaso over his excesses which includes claim of the former governor being overbearing. The governor is said to have grown tired of some commissioners loyal to Rabiu Kwankwaso flouting his others and neglecting his demands from them.
Speculations also have it that Abba Kabir Yusuf has shut the door against every effort to reconcile him with his godfather. The governor is said to be seeking independence from his godfather and wouldn’t play second fiddle to the former governor whose loyalists make up seventy percent of the governor’s cabinet.