Rivers Crisis: Wike Urges Fubara to Obey Court Judgment for Peace Restoration

In the ongoing Rivers political crisis, Nyesom Wike has called on Governor Fubara to honor court rulings, stating that compliance will bring peace to the state.

Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, has urged his successor Siminalayi Fubara to adhere to the rule of law in order to maintain peace in the state.

Wike made his remarks on Tuesday during an appearance as a guest on Channels Television’s program “Politics Today.”

“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory stated, ‘Peace prevails when you adhere to the rule of law and respect court judgments.’”

Wike’s comment followed the crisis in Rivers State.

In recent months, the state has been in the spotlight due to a conflict between Wike and Fubara. This dispute intensified a few days ago during the lead-up to and aftermath of local government elections in the area.

A court ruling prohibited the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from offering security during the election. Additionally, it instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withhold releasing the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for this process.

However, the government under Fubara’s leadership remained firm on holding the local government election and proceeded with it on Saturday.

READ ALSO: Fubara Discloses Main Reason for Rift with Wike Amid Rivers Political Tensions

The swearing-in of chairpersons and councillors on Monday sparked another wave of violence in the state, resulting in three local government council secretariats being set ablaze and extensive property damage.

Since then, Fubara has pledged to identify the masterminds behind the attacks and established a panel on Tuesday to investigate the incidents.

However, Wike insisted that Fubara should adhere to the court verdict in order to bring peace to the state.

“Follow the court’s decision and uphold the rule of law. Ignoring it leads to chaos,” he stated.

As a former governor, I have always adhered to the rule of law. You’ve heard the current governor express concerns that our state is descending into anarchy due to people not following legal principles.

“You must comply with the court’s ruling and not take justice into your own hands. Disregarding a court judgement invites chaos and violence,” stated Wike.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party of Fubara and Wike, did not take part in the election. Meanwhile, the Action Peoples Party (APP) secured 22 out of the 23 available chairmanship positions.

However, Wike believes that Fubara was behind the sponsorship of the APP.

“Nowadays, people claim ‘Discipline Wike for engaging in anti-party activities.’ However, I didn’t engage in anything against the party; I advocated for equity, fairness, and justice,” he remarked while highlighting his support of President Bola Tinubu from the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 election.

“What occurred today? It was Governor [Fubara] who sponsored the APP, and the chairman of the [PDP] governors’ forum was present at the swearing-in ceremony.”