Wike undermining national security, democracy,’ Rivers Elders tell Tinubu

A group of Rivers Elders led by a former Governor Rufus Ada George has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory to order over his threat to cause violence in some states.

The Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum made the call in an open letter they wrote to draw the attention of Tinubu to what they called the unsavory and demeaning threat statements widely circulating on news headlines made by Wike, on Saturday, 31st of August 2024, in Port Harcourt.

The group, in the letter, said they are concerned by Wike’s assertion that at the event as reported that: “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give back to somebody. “I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take.”

The Elders said that the above statement and threats consciously made by Wike to “Put fire” in those States are callous, mischievous, unacceptable, and and amounted to clear undermining of Nigeria’s democracy and national security.

They therefore enjoined the President to make Wike to realize the importance of the high office he holds and the responsibility expected of him by the Nigerian State.

Below is the full text of Press Statement:

RIVERS ELDERS ASKS TINUBU TO CALL WIKE TO ORDER

5th September, 2024.

His Excellency, Asiwaju (Sen). Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria Aso Rock Villa, Asokoro, Abuja.

Dear Mr. President,

NYESOM WIKE’S INVOCATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST SOME STATES IN NIGERIA

Fraternal greetings from the Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum to our dear President and commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju (Sen). Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

May I, on-behalf of the Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum, use this medium of an open letter to urgently draw your attention to the recent unsavory and demeaning threat statements widely circulating on news headlines made by the former Rivers State Governor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Saturday, 31st of August 2024, in Port Harcourt, which reads in parts, “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give back to somebody. “I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see you take.”

We at this Forum believe, that the above statement and threats consciously made by Wike to “Put fire” in those States are callous, mischievous, unacceptable, and clearly undermine our democracy and national security.

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. A great novelist once said, ” words are like bullets, once fired cannot be recalled and they are bound to cause the damage either intended/or unintended “.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right to association and free speech to the extent that it is not Injurious to the Nigerian State. The oath Wike swore to, on assumption of office, protects those rights and caveats. It is rather unfortunate that those oaths are now being broken by him.

That some states expressed support for the Rivers State Governor, Sim 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 Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike.

Threat to public peace from a serving cabinet Minister has the potential to snowball out of control, and is a sufficient recipe for eroding public confidence in political leaders, institutions, and the democratic process as a whole with a striking strength to deepen divisions within the society, thus making it very challenging to find common grounds towards peaceful resolution of disputes.

We, the people of Rivers State stand for peace alone and we are known as “fire quenchers” not “fire setters”.

Hence, we strongly appeal to the Minister, instead of poking and wreaking new fire, lets join hands to make sure that the fire is quenched completely.

The statements and conducts of Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike if not timely checked, may lead to a breakdown of peace and security in Nigeria.

That he also chose Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital to release these provocative threats is very worrisome and condemnable.

For the record, we will like to comment on Wike’s over exaggerated use of the term ‘My Structure’.

Rivers State before and at inception of our democratic journey, has been conservative and Pro North and South in terms of her voting/electoral leanings and patterns. Late Chief Melford Okilo, the first Civilian Governor of Rivers State had an alliance with the Northern Peoples Congress, (NPC). Chief Rufus Ada George, (the political son of Chief Okilo) who later became Governor in 1992, was Okilo’s Secretary to State Government. His Excellency, Dr Peter Odili who later became Governor in 1999, was Chief Rufus Ada George’s Deputy Governor. Both Celestine Omieha and Rotimi Amaechi who were also Governors, served on different capacities under Chief Rufus Ada George and Dr Peter Odili. It is therefore unambiguous to state that almost all the contemporary set of leaders with Wike had at one point or the other served/ worked under previous Governments.

It is thus, unimaginable for Wike to assume that the current and future political structure and generations of leaders in Rivers State belong to him. He should therefore stop misleading the public with the false narrative of ‘my structure’. To put it squarely, Chief Wike served as Council Chairman under His Excellency, Peter Odili’s administration. He was boy to Sen. John Azuta Mbata who introduced him to Chief Rufus Ada George years back, as an intending councillorship aspirant.

The Holy Bible States in Matthew 10:24 (NIV): “A disciple is not above their teacher, nor a servant above their master.” but if fully taught would be like his master”. Therefore, this servant with his antecedents, is not fully taught, hence, cannot be like his master, much more of owning the structure. The political structure in Rivers State belongs to Rivers people. Wike is just one product of the Rivers political family.

Mr. President, you are the father of the nation. Like our previous letters, we urge you to deeply reflect on this open letter in good faith and see it as a genuine expression of our concern for the unity, peace and progress of Rivers State, and indeed the whole of Nigeria.

Your Excellency, let it be noted that before your kind intervention in the political crisis in Rivers State, we had earlier appealed to both the Governor and the Minister to engage with us for peaceful resolution of their differences but unfortunately, we were not granted that privilege. Our interest in all of these, is to ensure that Rivers people benefit from the dividends of democracy like every other state in Nigeria.

To this end, we plead that you use your authority to direct the Inspector General of Police to unlock the twenty three Local Government Council Offices in Rivers State; and to allow for a smooth unhindered operation and delivery of democratic dividends to the people at the third tier of Government.

Finally, we think you need to address the apparent desperation of Chief Nyesom Wike who seems to have made power grabbing a political conquest that must be achieved by all means. You may need to call your Minister to order Sir.

It is in the light of the foregoing and in the general interest of Nigerians, that we urge you, to cause an investigation into these threat statements so that the tension already generated could be brought to rest.

Thank you in anticipation of your prompt action and may God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

SIGNED:

……………………………………………………..

His Excellency, Chief Rufus Ada George,

Former Governor of Rivers State and Chairman, Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum

_For and On-behalf of Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum,

Rivers State._

CC:

The Inspector General of Police,

Louis Edet House,

Force Headquarters,

Area 11, Shehu Shagari Way, Garki, Abuja.