Tensions in Nigeria’s Oil-Rich Rivers State Escalate as Governor Urges Ex-Predecessor to Let Go of Grip on the State
Rivers State in Nigeria is struggling to maintain peace and order amidst ongoing political tensions, as Governor Siminalayi Fubara has appealed to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, to let go of his grip on the state and allow governance to take hold. Fubara, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, acknowledged the challenges faced by his predecessor, but emphasized the need for peace and cooperation.
Despite resistance from Wike’s men in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fubara refused to back down and held local government elections last Saturday, which resulted in the Action People’s Party (APP) winning 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions. Wike, who once ruled the state, had an iron grip on the political scene, but Fubara believes it’s time for him to step back and let the new leaders take charge.
The escalating tensions culminated in violent clashes on Monday, as political opponents set ablaze several local government secretariats, including those in Eleme, Ikwerre, and Emuoha council premises. President Bola Tinubu has since ordered the police to secure the local government secretariats in the state.
In a televised statement, Fubara lamented the destruction of local government secretariats, reiterating that he had done everything in his power to ensure peace but had been met with resistance. He urged Wike to let go of whatever grip he thought he had over the state, noting that election periods are over, and it’s now time for governance.
“When it comes to the election period, you can fight and do whatever, but now is the time for governance. We need all the support,” Fubara emphasized.
Fubara’s message to Wike was clear: let go of your grip and let peace reign in Rivers State. The governor noted that he had kept “all understanding” he had with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure peace but acknowledged that the situation continued to escalate.
“I have all the guts to do these things,” the governor said, “You don’t necessarily need to win all the fights; at times, you just let go for the sake of the good people of Rivers State and the love that you have always professed for the state.”
With President Tinubu intervening, it remains to be seen how the situation in Rivers State will unfold in the coming days. Meanwhile, the people of the oil-rich state can only hope that peace and cooperation will eventually prevail.
