Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has called on Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara to effectively govern Rivers State, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, has been at odds with his successor, Governor Fubara, over the control of the state.
The tension escalated following the recent local government elections in which the Action People’s Party (APP), under Governor Fubara’s administration, swept 22 of the 23 local governments, further intensifying the political rivalry.
In a statement issued on Monday, Chief Bode George called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and prevail upon Wike, who is also a member of his cabinet, to allow Governor Fubara to govern without interference. George stressed the need to respect democratic processes and urged for peaceful coexistence.
“Now that the 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 the dividends of democracy to the people,” George said.
He also noted the historical implications of allowing such political tensions to fester, comparing the current situation to the crisis in the Western Region between 1962 and 1966, which eventually led to Nigeria’s first military coup.
“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,” George warned, adding that unresolved issues could have dire security consequences not only for Nigeria but for the broader West African region.
George reminded Wike that his time as governor has passed and urged him to give Governor Fubara the space to execute his mandate. “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. Now that Governor Fubara is the Chief Executive of the state, he should be allowed to work. Nobody stays in office forever,” George remarked.
While acknowledging Wike’s role in Fubara’s political rise, George insisted that democratic norms must be respected, stating that the people of Rivers State would ultimately decide Fubara’s fate through the ballot in 2027.
He urged for calm and the cessation of hostilities, appealing to Wike to prioritize the state’s peace and security.
“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,” George concluded, emphasizing that while political ambition is important, it must not come at the expense of the people’s well-being.
