River state boiled Monday with five killed in an aftermath of last Saturday’s local government councils, just as the Presidency asked Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other political stakeholders to embrace the law in the resolution of their grievances over the outcome of the polls.
It also directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure security around the secretariats of the local government councils and restore normalcy.
Special Adviser to the president on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, quoted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as giving the order in a statement issued Monday in Abuja.
The president’s admonition followed the spate of violence that occurred Monday in some local government councils, where suspected political thugs razed public buildings.
…The LG polls
The Action People’s Party (APP), backed by Fubara, a People’s Democratic Party(PDP) governor, cleared 22 of the 23 chairmanship seats, while the Action Alliance (AA) won one seat, as announced by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RVSIEC).
Both the All Progressives Congress(APC) and the PDP rejected the outcome of the polls.
The councils that were torched by the hoodlums include Obio/Akpor, Bori, Khana, Ikwerre and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government secretariats, where weapons, including guns, were freely used.
However, in Oyigbo local government council, the chairman, Dr. Gift Okere, hit the ground running after inaugurating the vice chairman and 10 elected councillors.
Reports from Ahoada East indicated that the pro-Wike groups resisted from gaining entrance into the secretariat, but not after there were sporadic shootings which left some people injured.
The state Police Command, had earlier in a statement Monday, confirmed the decision to unseal the secretariats based on directives from the IGP.
Commissioner of Police Bala Mustapha, who had just been redeployed to the state, said this followed the IGP’s order to withdraw police personnel stationed at the secretariats to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic processes.
They, however, promised to return in event of any security threat, urging residents to remain calm.
…Fubara forewarns
Governor Fubara, while inaugurating the council chairs, said: “I’m aware that they are mobilising 20 people per unit to go and confront you tomorrow when you resume in your local government headquarters. Please if they are coming with violence, avoid them.
“The peace of this state is too important to us. Everybody knows what they are planning but please I want to beg everyone to follow my approach.
“At the right time, you will always win if you are patient and calculative. We have made our promises to our people. We are going to lead them to the promised land.”
…Tinubu cautions, orders police on peace
Worried by the development, President Tinubu urged all the aggrieved persons to seek judicial intervention and not as resort to violence.
In the statement, Onanuga said: “President Bola Tinubu has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.
“In response to recent tensions following last Saturday’s local government council election, the President expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state.
“He urged all political actors to de-escalate the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions.
“President Tinubu directed the police to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.
“While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions. President Tinubu said 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.
“According to President Tinubu, the judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception.”
…Bode George pleads
Also in an intervention, a former deputy national chairman of the PDP, Chief Olabode George appealed to President Tinubu to prevail on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to allow the governor to work and deliver the dividend of democracy to the people.
In a letter written to President Tinubu, which he copied Wike and Fubara, the PDP chieftain said if the political crisis going on in Rivers state was not contained, it can derail the current political dispensation.
“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,” he said.
George further said: “It is good to have political ambition, to be the alpha and omega in a partisan setting but this ambition must not be at variance with the expectations of the people.
“Some have said what is happening can be traced to the 2027 elections’ calculations. I believe it is too early to start strategizing for a partisan event which is still close to 28 months away. 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.
“I am raising this alarm because what is happening in Rivers now is a cause for serious concern for everyone.”
“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 explained.
George stated that his understanding of the man-made crisis in Rivers State is that there is a despotic, divisive, wicked and anti-people design to create a conflagration which may eventually consume the country.
“We all know the economic importance of Rivers to the survival of this nation. It is the gateway to the Niger Delta. 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 former governor of the state and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara work and deliver dividend of democracy to the people.”
“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,” said the former military governor.
He explained that by the year 2027, people of Rivers state will decide, through their votes, if they want to return Fubara to office or not.
“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,” he said.