Abuja, Nigeria – E be like say wahala don show face for Rivers State, but Vice President Kashim Shettima don clear the air about wetin e talk during recent book launch. E don reject all di talk wey link him remark to di current political palaver for Rivers, say na misinterpretation wey dey fly around.
On Friday, Stanley Nkwocha, wey be Senior Special Assistant to di President on Media and Communications, release statement wey talk say Shettima’s comments no even get anything to do with di gist of governor Siminalayi Fubara wey dey face gbege for Rivers State. Di book launch wey Shettima attend na di presentation of “OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block” by Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), and e happen for Thursday, July 10, for di Yar’Adua Centre.
For di speech wey Shettima give, e touch on some old matter wey carry am go back to di time wey di Goodluck Jonathan administration dey try push him out as governor of Borno State during Boko Haram wahala. Nkwocha come confirm say media wey dey mix am up dey misrepresent di whole matter, say wetin di Vice President talk na just historical stuff and no be about di current situation for Rivers.
“Di Vice President’s comments na historical references, and e no mean say e dey criticize di federal government decision for Rivers,” Nkwocha talk. “E just dey show appreciation for accountability and proper documentation for public office.”
Dey go futher, di statement no forget to yarn about di current crisis for Rivers State. E talk say President Bola Tinubu waka according to di constitution when e declare state of emergency and suspend Governor Fubara. Nkwocha even quote Section 305(1)(c) wey allow for di whole extraordinary measures when public wahala don reach di peak.
“Di way Rivers State matter don dey turn wahala don reach constitutional level wey require federal intervention,” di statement come add. “Even di National Assembly don approve di President’s move, dey show say all hand dey on deck for di necessary action to take.”
Dem also urge all di media make dem no mix Shettima’s remarks with di ongoing political jaga-jaga for Rivers. Nkwocha drop some wise words: “If you interpret Senator Shettima’s observations as commentary on current affairs, you dey either misinterpret am or you no dey respect constitutional discourse.”
Finally, di Vice President Office call for responsible reporting, warning say if dem misrepresent public officials’ statements, na im go affect national unity wey all of us dey crave for.