RIVERS LAWMAKER SLAMS TINUBU’S AIDE OVER REMARKS ON WIKE’S ‘COMPENSATION’ AND RIVERS CRISIS. (PHOTO).

 Rivers Lawmaker Slams Tinubu’s Aide Over Remarks on Wike’s ‘Compensation’ and Rivers Crisis

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Solomon Bob, has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, accusing him of peddling a “malicious narrative” against Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt and circulated to journalists in Abuja, the lawmaker, who represents Abua/Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency in Rivers State and is a known ally of Wike, described Bwala as “an insignificant and attention-seeking operator, punching above his weight.”

Bob was responding to comments Bwala made during a television interview on Friday, where the presidential aide stated that Wike had been “adequately compensated” by the Tinubu administration. Bwala also suggested that the FCT minister was obstructing Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s ability to govern effectively amid the ongoing political tensions in the state.

The Rivers-born legislator dismissed Bwala’s remarks as “cheeky, unwarranted, and stemmed from premeditated bile,” arguing that they reflected poor judgment and a deliberate distortion of facts.

“You could see that he deliberately pivoted from the question to talk about the minister having been ‘adequately compensated,’ whatever that means,” Bob stated. “He clearly does not understand the minister’s contribution to this administration. He operates on the fringes and leaves the impression that he views public office as a gravy train, whereas public office is about service delivery, not compensation.”

Bob defended Wike’s performance as FCT minister, attributing it to the former Rivers governor’s initiative in exiting the Treasury Single Account (TSA) system for the FCT administration, which he said demonstrated ingenuity and earned President Tinubu’s confidence. He highlighted Wike’s track record as Rivers governor, noting that even former President Muhammadu Buhari had recognised his achievements despite past political differences.

The lawmaker further accused Bwala of overstepping his role by projecting personal opinions as official presidential positions. “Mr Bwala does not speak for the president. That is not his remit, and he is far down the pecking order of presidential spokesmen,” Bob said.

He also suggested that Bwala’s comments might stem from lingering resentment related to the 2023 presidential election, claiming the aide was still “grappling with a sense of what might have been” after Wike helped neutralise opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar.

Bob urged Bwala to focus on his official duties and exercise humility, warning that such public commentary from a presidential aide should be guided by professionalism and restraint.