Former PDP deputy national chairman, Olabode George, has advised FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to ceasefire and allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers to work for the state’s people
He made this appeal in a statement on Monday in Lagos following the latest crisis in the state as a result of the local government election.
“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,” said Mr George.
Mr George, a PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) member, also called on President Bola Tinubu to advise Mr Wike, the immediate past Rivers governor, to make efforts towards ending the political tension in the state.
He said this had become imperative now that the people of Rivers had boldly asserted their civic and constitutional rights by coming out to vote in Saturday’s local government election.
“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,” Mr George said.
According to him, all lovers of democracy know if the political happenings in Rivers could lead to the re-enactment of the crisis in the defunct Western Region between 1962 and 1966 if allowed to continue.
He said the crisis eventually led to the first military coup of January 15, 1966, and how the crisis led to a second coup on July 29, the same year.
“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.
“Any threat to peace in this state will eventually lead to huge security implications, not only for Nigeria but West Africa and Africa,” he said.
According to him, it is good to have political ambition, but this ambition must not be at variance with the people’s expectations.
He said some analysts had linked the happenings in Rivers to the 2027 elections’ calculations, adding, “I believe it is too early to start strategising for a partisan event which is still close to 28 months away.”
Mr George added, “By 2027, the 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.”
He said th the way the partisan crisis was going, if not checked, might collapse Nigeria’s democracy.
The PDP chieftain advised the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to call some judicial officers to order over conflicting court orders.
“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,” he said.
The state has had lingering political crises emanating from the friction between Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Mr Wike. NAN
