Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum have written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, condemning the threats recently made by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The elders said Wike’s open threat to instigate political crisis in states governed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governors on August 31, 2024 in Port Harcourt, was “callous, mischievous, unacceptable, and a clear case of undermining democracy and national security.”
Recall that the FCT Minister had during the Rivers PDP state Congress threatened to cause crisis in the respective states governed by PDP governors of the continue to interfere and take sides in the ongoing political tussle for the soul of Rivers State between the governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and Chief Nyesom Wike, the immediate past governor of the state.
Speaking On-behalf of Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum, a former governor of the state who doubles as the Chairman of the forum, Rufus Ada George, reminded Wike the importance of his office and the responsibility expected of him by the Nigerian State.
George, quoted a great novelist, saying, “words are like bullets, once fired cannot be recalled and they are bound to cause damage either intended or unintended.”
The elders argued that Wike’s oath of office protects the rights to association and free speech, but noted that he is now breaching that oath.
The letter reads in part: “We believe that Chief Wike should be made to realize the importance of the high office he holds and the responsibility expected of him by the Nigerian State… His threats to ‘put fire’ in states is unacceptable and undermine our democracy and national security.
“That some states expressed support for the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and called on his party’s NWC to grant him his “rightful” position as the leader of the party in the state does not earn them the verbal threats, Wike is unleashing on them.
“We therefore condemn, in its entirety, the language, the environment and the insults meted out to their Excellencies which we consider as an indirect assault on them. These bully tactics, are the hallmarks and characteristics of Nyesom Wike.”
The elders described Wike’s statements as a “threat to public peace” with the potential to erode public confidence in political leaders and institutions.
They appealed to the Minister to join hands in quenching the fire rather than poking and wreaking new ones.
The forum also condemned Wike’s use of the term “my structure,” stating that the political structure in Rivers State belongs to the people, not him.
They highlighted Wike’s political antecedents, emphasizing that he is a product of the Rivers political family and not its owner.
The elders urged President Tinubu to reflect on their concerns and take necessary actions to ensure unity, peace, and progress in Rivers State and Nigeria. They requested the President to direct the Inspector General of Police to unlock the 23 Local Government Council Offices in Rivers State and allow for smooth operations.
They, however, appealed to the President to address Wike’s apparent desperation for power and investigate the threat statements to bring the generated tension to rest.
