Former Publicity Secretary of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Anabs Sara-Igbe, has said the political crisis in Rivers State was caused by the desire of Nyesom Wike to control the resources of the state.

Anabs Sara-Igbe alleged that the Minister of FCT, Wike, had hoped he would control the money of Rivers State even though Governor Siminalaya Fubara is in charge.

In an interview with  News Central on Friday, the Rivers State elder statesman further claimed that Wike‘s presidential ambition was influencing his desire to control the state’s money.

“The crisis river state is not about political structure it’s about money. It is about money control the money; who controls the money in Rivers State, that is the structure Wike is referring to.

“Let me tell you something Wike is nursing presidential ambition and he believes it is only money that can give him that presidential ticket and so he is trying to ensure he controls all the resources both in Rivers State and his present office. But unfortunately, he did not approach it in the right way. He wanted force to get it and that was the bedrock, who controls the resources,” he said.

Sara-Igbe further alleged that Wike nominated all the commissioners, special advisers and chief of staff for Governor Fubara.

He claimed that the former Rivers State governor awarded contracts that would gulp the federal allocations of the state before leaving office.

According to him, Wike also allegedly was in charge of the state’s internally generated revenue for months before Governor Fubara took action.

“Wike played a role in the emergence of the Governor no doubt about it, but at a point the governor was not allowed to even nominate a commissioner. All the commissioners were nominated by Wike. All the advisors including the chief of staff were nominated by Wike.

“Before he left he awarded contracts that will take the whole money coming from federation account and he has given instruction as to which bank to be paid. Then internally generated revenue, he wanted to be in control also. He did that for some months. Then the Governor said no that is where the problem started. So Wike wanted to control the resources of Rivers State,” Sara-Igbe added.