Former Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr 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 Chief 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,” George warned.
“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, Chief 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 canvass 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 (CJN), 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 hold. 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.
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