Rivers Elders Gang Up Against Wike

A former Governor of the state, Rufus Ada-George has led some elders of the state to reject the recent peace meeting by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconcile the governor of the state, Simi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, his predecessor.

Governor Fubara and Wike has been locked in a serious battle over the control for the soul of the state. Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory was instrumental to Fubara’s ascension into office in May this year.

But not longer after he became governor, Fubara decided to choose his own path, leading to a clash with his benefactor, a crisis that nearly engulfed the state before President Tinubu intervened.

The President had urged the two political gladiators to sheathe their swords after an agreement they both signed in Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power two weeks ago.

The terms of the agreement include the withdrawal of impeachment against Governor Fubara by the state house of Assembly members loyal to Wike, and the payment of their allowance by the governor, amongst others so that peace can return to the restive oil-bearing state.

But when keen watchers of the state’ affairs thought that the worst was over, some prominent leaders have kicked against the agreement saying it was not done in the interest of the state.

Governor Fubara had after the agreement stated that it was implementable, adding that the President Tinubu-led truce was not bad as some persons had painted it to be.

The elders would not have none of it. They made this known in strongly worded letters to President Tinubu and the governor, asserting that “as custodians of the Rivers people’s conscience and morality, we find the directive resolution document lopsided and skewed in favour of the interest of your current minister.”

The open letters were signed by Chief Rufus Ada George, Dr Gabriel Toby, Ibim Princewill, Rear Adm. P.  Fingesi, (retd.), Emeritus Prof Dagogo Fubara, HRH Iraron, Ede Obolo, Anabs Sara-Igbe, Senator Bennett Birabi, Ms. Annkio Briggs, Captain Nwankwo, Prof. A.W. Obianime, Prof. E. T. Bristol, and  Chief Marcus Atata among others.

According to the elders, the agreement was not in the interest of the state, describing the president’s directive as illegal, and a violation of the principle of separation of power.

The agreement, the elders further stated, served the interest of the FCT Minister, as such it must be jettisoned in the overall interest of the state.

The letters read in part: “For us, as custodians of the Rivers people’s conscience and morality, we find the directive resolution document lopsided and skewed in favour of the interest of your current minister, Nyesom Wike, to the detriment of the Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, the governance of the state and the interest of the generality of the good people of Rivers State.

“Does the President have the powers to overrule the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction when he is a product of the court himself?

“Central to this, Mr President, is the sacred doctrine and practice of the separation of powers. May we inform Mr. President that the seats of the cross carpeting members have been declared vacant by the Speaker, known to law, Rt Hon Ehie Edison, through an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court Port Harcourt division.

“We cannot but imagine how providing accommodation and meeting venue for legislative business becomes the duty of members of the House of Assembly who you directed to sit wherever they choose and not by the Executive Arm as in the case of the National Assembly Complex were Legislative Quarters are provided and maintained by the Executive Arm.

“Given the foregoing, it is obviously evident that Governor Siminialayi Fubara, the Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State, was coerced into submitting to your premeditated action plan even when it is well known that Mr. President does not possess such powers to give directives to a democratically elected governor or impose his will on the state government and the good people of Rivers State.

“As far as we are concerned, that meeting did not happen and those directives are not implementable because to do so will be acting against the constitution and the rule of law.”

The FCT minister left office as governor in May this year after eight years, and until recently was the darling of many leaders in the state, who praised him for his developmental strides.

Many of these leaders have now turned against him because of his feud with the governor, analysts say.