Fubara unhappy Tinubu didn’t call out Wike about crisis in Rivers

Governor Siminalyi Fubara has expressed concern over the failure of President Bola Tinubu to call out the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, in his reaction to the destruction of local government secretariats in Rivers State

The oil-rich state erupted in clashes on Monday, October 7, 2024, as rampaging hoodlums wreaked havoc in four local governments, including Eleme, Ikwerre, Ahoada East, and Emohua.

There were sporadic gunshots in Ahoada East while buildings at the three other councils were touched in an attempt to resist newly elected council officials.

The violence ensued a few hours after the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, ordered the withdrawal of police personnel from all the 23 local government secretariats of the South-South state.

Tinubu calls on Fubara to uphold the rule of law

Reacting to the development late Monday, Tinubu in a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, ordered the police to secure the local government secretariats in Rivers.

However, while the President mentioned Fubara’s name as he cautioned political leaders in the state to uphold the rule of law, he didn’t do the same for Wike, who has been accused of sponsoring the violence.

Onanuga said the President “called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law”.

Meanwhile, The Governor reacted to Tinubu’s statement when spoke on Channels Television‘s Politics Today programme on Monday.

Fubara said, “I do not have any issue with it (the President’s intervention) but I am a bit concerned when my name was only mentioned.

“The issue is very simple. It’s as simple as ABC, everyone in Nigeria, everyone in Rivers State knows where this issue is coming from. It’s not rocket science. We know what the issue is and the issue is not Fubara, it is not.

“I believe strongly that with the recent intervention of the Inspector General of Police, maybe we will have a breathing space.

“Maybe as a result of him pulling his men out of those secretariats might be one of the reasons they (hoodlums) took advantage of the situation but I will appeal that while the men are there, the elected officers should have the opportunity to do their work, at least, let them provide security for them, which was even what I was thinking of.

“I was never of the opinion that the police should pull out completely. No. When they said they were moving out, it was what allowed these miscreants to take advantage of the secretariats to destroy them.”