Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to caution the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, following the worsening political crisis in Rivers State.
Recall that Wike, the immediate past governor of the oil-rich state, has been locked in a political battle with his successor, Sim Fubara, over control of the state.
Also, there has been tension in Rivers State after Saturday’s Local Government Areas election, where Action People’s Party (APP) swept the polls in 22 of the 23 local governments.
Bode George, in a statement on Monday, raised concerns over recent political developments in Rivers State, warning that if not addressed, they could lead to a crisis with far-reaching security implications for Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa at large.
The PDP chieftain asked Tinubu to prevail on Wike to allow Governor Fubara to work and deliver dividends of democracy to the residents of the state.
Bode George added that President Tinubu would be the biggest loser if democracy in Rivers State gets truncated.
He said, “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 former governor of the state and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara work and deliver dividend 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.
“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.
“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.
“Any threat to peace in this state will eventually lead to huge security implications, not only for Nigeria but West Africa and Africa. It is good to have political ambition, to be the alpha and omega in a partisan setting but this ambition must not be at variance with the expectations of the people.”
