- Charges Fubara, stakeholders to exercise restraint, uphold rule of law
- Thugs unleash mayhem in Rivers, one killed, LG secretariats burnt
- Tell Wike to allow Fubara breathe, Bode George charges Tinubu
- Assembly seeks arrest of arsonists
President Bola Tinubu has directed the police to immediately restore and maintain peace, law, and order in Rivers State.
Responding to recent tensions following last Saturday’s local government council election in the state, the President, in a release issued on Monday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, while instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions.
He, therefore, called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.
President Tinubu expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state and urged all political actors to de-escalate the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions.
Violent clashes erupted in at least four local government areas—with parts of the buildings in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emohua council premises set ablaze, while gunshots were fired sporadically in Ahoada East to resist the new council officials.
According to the President, government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.
He stressed that self-help has no place in a democratic system, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy.
President Tinubu stressed that the judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of the Local Government Council poll should not be an exception.
Thugs unleash mayhem in Rivers, one killed, LG secretariats burnt
Political thugs went on rampage on Monday in Rivers State; a few hours after the State Police Command announced the withdrawal of personnel from previously sealed local government secretariats.
Violence erupted in several areas, leading to arson, shootings, and fatalities.
On Monday morning, a section of the Eleme Local Government secretariat was set on fire shortly after the arrival of newly-elected chairman, Brian Gokpa. He was accompanied by councillors and supporters.
Witnesses reported that the attackers deliberately targeted specific buildings within the complex, causing extensive damage. The exact motivation behind the attack remains unclear.
The secretariats had been sealed since June, following a political standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former political ally, Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The closures forced caretaker chairmen appointed by Fubara to operate from alternative locations.
Despite Wike’s efforts to block them, local government elections were held on Saturday, and the swearing-in of new chairmen by Governor Fubara was held on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, the Rivers State Police Command, in a statement, confirmed the decision to unseal the secretariats based on directives from Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The newly deployed Commissioner of Police, Bala Mustapha, relayed the IGP’s order to withdraw police personnel stationed at the secretariats to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic processes.
The Police emphasised that they would only return if a security threat emerged.
While the police urged residents to remain calm and assured them of maintaining peace, the attack on the Eleme secretariat raised concerns about the security of other local government offices as newly elected officials began to assume their roles.
In Khana Local Government, one person was reported killed during sporadic gunfire on the road leading to the Rector’s Lodge.
Violence also erupted in Obio/Akpor, where bottles were thrown during a confrontation. The Police successfully contained the situation.
In Bori, members of the PDP and the Action People’s Party clashed in a protest at Khana council secretariat, following the withdrawal of police from the area.
In Ikwerre, unknown gunmen reportedly chased the newly-elected chairman and his supporters out of the secretariat.
Pro-Wike supporters also took over the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Secretariat, preventing the pro-Governor Fubara council chairman from accessing the office.
Meanwhile, in Oyigbo council, Executive Chairman, Gift Okere, took control of the council secretariat. Administrative activities commenced immediately following the swearing-in of the vice chairman and 10 elected councillors.
Andoni remained peaceful, with the council chairman addressing supporters from his office at the secretariat in Ngo.
In Ahoada East, initial attempts by pro-Wike groups to block access to the secretariat were dislodged after some shootings. The incident left three people injured with bullet wounds.
Tell Wike to allow Fubara breathe, Bode George charges Tinubu
Meanwhile, a former Deputy National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, has called on President Tinubu to call the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to order and allow River State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to work and deliver dividends of democracy, warning that the president would be the biggest loser should the country’s democracy be truncated due to an ongoing crisis in the state.
George gave this warning on Monday in a statement made available to newsmen, saying now is the time for former Governor Wike to allow the incumbent Governor Fubara to work and deliver dividends of democracy “now that people of Rivers State have boldly asserted their civic and constitutional rights by coming out to vote in the local government election on Saturday.”
The PDP chieftain, while sounding the warning, said all lovers of democracy would agree with him that political happenings in the oil-bearing state in the last few months, if allowed to continue, could lead to a re-enactment of the crisis in the defunct Western Region between 1962 and 1966.
According to George, who is also the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, that sad event eventually led to the first military coup of January 15, 1966, with many notable figures killed, and consequently “to a second coup on July 29, 1966, when scores of military officers were killed.”
“Now that people of Rivers State have boldly asserted their civic and constitutional rights by coming out to vote in the local government election on Saturday, this is the time for the former governor of the state and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara to work and deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
“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.
“All lovers of democracy will agree with me that political happenings in this oil-bearing state in the last few months, if allowed to continue, can lead to a re-enactment of the crisis in the defunct Western Region between 1962 and 1966, which eventually led to the first military coup of January 15, 1966. Many of our national figures were killed, and events of that day led to a second coup on July 29, 1966, when scores of military officers were killed.
“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 January 15, 1970. Close to two million Nigerians died in the war,” he added.
The elder statesman said he was raising the alarm about what was currently happening in Rivers due to its seriousness, describing the development as a man-made crisis, designed to create a conflagration that may eventually consume the country due to the economic importance of Rivers to the survival of this nation and being the gateway to the Niger Delta.
The PDP chieftain, while noting that it is good to have political ambition, to be the alpha and omega in a partisan setting, quickly pointed out that such ambition must not be at variance with the expectations of the people and further warned that any threat to peace in Rivers State “will eventually lead to huge security implications, not only for Nigeria but West Africa and Africa.”
“Some have said what is happening can be traced to the 2027 elections’ calculations. 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, the people of Rivers State 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.
“The way this partisan crisis is going, if not checked, may collapse our democracy.
“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,” he said.
Speaking further, George, while admitting that it was true that Wike sponsored and supported Fubara to become governor, quickly pointed out that somebody also supported Wike to be governor from 2015 to 2023, while somebody also nominated him to serve as minister, adding, “God will always use somebody to help anybody, but nobody is God.”
This was just as he recalled that years ago, he had to travel all over the country to canvas for votes when he wanted to be the PDP National Chairman, only to discover that there was a gang-up against him a few days before the party’s convention, leading to his withdrawal from the race.
According to him, Wike, Uche Secondus, who eventually became the party chairman, some senators, and others came to his Abuja house to beg him, recalling that what he did was to ask Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, “who was in my house that day, to pray for them.”
“Since then, I have not left the party. That is the way I play my politics because nobody is God,” George said.
“It is because of this crisis in Rivers that the PDP lost out in the October 5 council elections because we didn’t field candidates. Elders in our party should also advise Wike on the way forward.
“Look at what happened during the September 21 governorship election in Edo State. The exercise was brazenly manipulated, and this is because some of our members allowed it to happen. Inordinate ambition is affecting some of our people.
“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 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,” he counselled.
George, however, said it was also the time for the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to call some judicial officers to order, expressing disgust concerning conflicting court rulings on the recently held council election in Rivers State.
The PDP chieftain wondered how courts of the same jurisdiction, having the same powers, could be giving conflicting orders on a similar suit, saying that judges should not allow politicians to influence them to give conflicting judgements but should ensure that the judiciary remains above board as the last hope of the common man.
“This is also the time for the new Chief Justice of Nigeria to call some judicial officers to order. A High Court in Rivers gave an order that the council election must be held. A Federal High Court in faraway Abuja gave another order that security agents must not provide security during the election. How can courts of the same jurisdiction, having the same powers, be giving conflicting orders on a similar suit?
“Judges should not allow politicians to influence them to be giving conflicting judgements.
“As the last hope of the common man, the judiciary should be above board.
“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.
“This is also the time for Tinubu to see himself as the father of all. My prayer for Governor Fubara is for God to continue to direct and protect him in this political journey. Your calmness of purpose and humility will continue to endear you to the people.
“The political storm in Rivers must disappear immediately, in the interest of all Nigerians,” George stated.
Assembly seeks arrest of arsonists
Also, the Rivers State Assembly under the leadership of Victor Oko-Jumbo has called for the immediate arrest of those responsible for the destruction of secretariat complexes and attacks on local government officials in the state.
Addressing the House during the screening of four commissioner nominees, Oko-Jumbo challenged the police to live up to the expectation of protecting lives and properties.
