Rivers State Governor, Siminilayi Fubara, has sued for peace with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, as peace returned to the state after Monday’s violent attacks on some local government council secretariat across the state.
No fewer than three council secretariats, including Ikwerre, Obio-Akpor and Emuoha, were either torched or bombed by irate youths, alleged to be loyalists of the FCT Minister and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Photo: Fubara with Wike when the going was good
Speaking on a Channels TV interview programme, Politics Today, Fubara hinted that his feud with his predecessor and estranged godfather was over the control of the state and the latter’s quest for power.
He appealed to Wike, whom he said has had his tenure, to allow him a peaceful tenure: “My appeal is that everyone should put down their swords,” Fubara said. “Even to the Minister, my oga, there’s no need to destroy things.
“He once ruled the state, and Rivers was the envy of all. Now, another person is in charge, and what I need is his support. After four years, or who knows, eight years, I too will leave, and someone else will take over. That should be the spirit,” Fubara said.
On his protracted squabble with the minister, he said, “We all know what the issue is—it’s simple. It’s about power and control. You’ve all seen it play out. If council elections had been conducted in Rivers State and the chairmen had been inaugurated under normal circumstances, would anyone need to obstruct them from entering their secretariats?”
He further accused Wike of throwing his weight around the state, after peacefully administering it for eight unbroken years, hinting that the former governor was now hellbent on making it ungovernable for him.
“Maybe there’s someone who believes they hold more authority than the state government. It’s all about power. I don’t want to get into details, and I don’t want to escalate the matter. I want to focus on governance and handle the situation as best as I can.”
Fubara also stressed that he has upheld all previous agreements. “I don’t think there’s any agreement I’ve failed to keep. Like I said, I don’t want to discuss these issues.”
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his intervention, he expressed concerns that the president did not touch on the minister’s role in the conflicts in the state.
“I have no issue with the President’s intervention, but I was a bit concerned that only my name was mentioned. However, since it’s coming from the President, I won’t comment further on that.”
He reiterated that the conflict was not about him. “This issue is straightforward—it’s not complicated. Everyone in Nigeria, and Rivers State, knows where this problem is coming from. It’s not about Fubara.”
The Governor partly blamed the Inspector-General of Police’s decision to withdraw officers from the secretariats for the violent protests that erupted in Rivers State on Monday.
“I strongly believe that with the recent intervention of the IGP, we will have peace,” Fubara said. “The withdrawal of police officers from the secretariats likely allowed the miscreants to take advantage and destroy the properties. If the officers had remained, the elected officials would have been able to do their jobs, and security would have been maintained.”
He concluded, “I was never in favour of the Nigerian police completely withdrawing. When they pulled out, it gave room for these miscreants to exploit the situation. I understand that, but now they should return and work with the chairmen to protect the council properties.”
