A former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George has advised the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State to work for the people of the state.
George 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.
George, a PDP Board of Trustees (BOT) member, also called on President Bola Tinubu to advise Wike, the immediate past Rivers governor. to make efforts towards ending the political tension in the state.
He said that 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.
“This is the time for the 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.
“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.
According to him, all lovers of democracy know that 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 Jan. 15, 1966.
The PDP chieftain recalled how some national figures were killed and how the crisis led to a second coup on July 29, 1966, which also claimed the lives of many military officers.
“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.
According to him, it is good to have political ambition, but this ambition must not be at variance with the expectations of the people.
He said that some analysts had linked the happenings in Rivers to the 2027 elections’ calculations.
George added: “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 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 that the way the partisan crisis was going, if not checked, might collapse Nigeria’s 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.
“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 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.
“The political storm in Rivers must disappear immediately, in the interest of all Nigerians,” he said.
There have been lingering political crises in the state, emanating from the friction between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike.