George, Fubara and Wike
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Elder statesman, Chief Olabode George, has raised alarm that the political crisis in Rivers State has potential to plunge the country into an avoidable civil war.
George, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, cautioned Mr Nyesom Wike, the immediate past governor of the state and currently Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to tread softly and allow Siminalayi Fubara to work and deliver democracy dividends for the people.
In a statement he issued in Lagos on Monday, George also urged President Bola Tinubu to rein in his minister and defuse the political tension that has enveloped the state.
The intervention of George, a former military administrator of Ondo State and member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, came amid an escalating crisis, following last Saturday’s local government election in the state.
“This is the time for former governor of the state and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to allow Gov. Siminalayi Fubara to work and deliver dividends of democracy to the people,” he wrote.
“This is also the time for President Bola Tinubu to advise Wike, who is one of his ministers, to allow the governor to work.
“I say this with all sense of responsibility because if this democracy is truncated, God forbid, Tinubu, as the Commander-in-Chief, will be the biggest loser,” George said.
He warned on the likelihood of the crisis snowballing into a national crisis that could consume the country.
“Since history is no longer taught in our schools, I want to remind the gladiators in this Rivers crisis that the January and July 1966 killings eventually led to the civil war between July 6, 1967 and Jan.15, 1970,” George recalled.
“Close to two million Nigerians died in the war. I am raising this alarm because what is happening in Rivers now is a cause for serious concern for everyone.
“My understanding of this man-made crisis is that there is a despotic, divisive, wicked and anti-people design to create a conflagration which may eventually consume our country.
“We all know the economic importance of Rivers to the survival of this nation. It is the gateway to the Niger Delta.
“Any threat to peace in this state will eventually lead to huge security implications, not only for Nigeria but West Africa and Africa.”
He reasoned that the crisis was born out of political ambition in 2027, adding that it was coming too early in the day.
“I believe it is too early to start strategising for a partisan event which is still close to 28 months away.
“One thing is clear: Nyesom Wike was governor of the state for eight years. He left the Government House in May last year and today, he is the FCT Minister.
“Sir Peter Odili and Rotimi Amaechi were governors before him. Now that Governor Fubara is the Chief Executive of the state, he should be allowed to work. Nobody stays in office forever.
“By 2027, people of Rivers will decide, through their votes, if they want him to return to office or not. This is how political issues and ambitions are handled in civilised climes.
“Now that council chairmen and councillors have been elected, I appeal to Nyesom Wike to please give peace a chance. Tinubu must also call Wike and tell him to allow the governor to work.
“I am appealing to Wike to please let this crisis be a thing of the past. The democracy we enjoy today, many people suffered to bring it to fruition. Some even died.
“We should not be seen to be dancing on their graves because of partisan interests. Only God knows what will happen in 2027 because He is greater, wiser and more powerful than all of us.
“Once again, I am appealing to Wike to look at the larger interests in this crisis. He should not allow himself to be used and dumped by the APC.
“The political storm in Rivers must disappear immediately, in the interest of all Nigerians,” he said.
George also charged the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to address the issue of conflicting court orders by judicial officers.
