The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has blamed his successor Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for the violence in the state.
Wike made his position known in an interview programme on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.
Wike said: “Who is the perpetrator of the violence, I am not blaming the Governor, but he is the architect of the violence in the state”
“Did you see my supporters causing the mayhem, those shouting No Wike, No Rivers, is not my business. I was in Abuja and not in Rivers on the day of the election”, Wike told the ChannelsTV anchor, Seun Okinbaloye in an interview on Tuesday
The minister also blamed Governor Fubara for disobeying a court order, an action he said led to the breakdown of law and order in the state
“I was a governor, I have always obeyed the rule of law. You heard the governor say that our state is turning into a state of anarchy where people do not obey the rule of law.”
“You must obey the judgment of the court. You must not take the law into your own hands. The moment you don’t obey court judgment, you are inviting anarchy, you are inviting violence,” Wike added.
However, Fubara had told Channels TV on Monday that he has begged Wike severally for peace to reign in Rivers State.
Fubara also revealed how he once went on his knees to plead with his erstwhile political godfather.
Fubara made the revelation on Monday on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today.
Rivers State was embroiled in crisis with one person feared dead following a shooting in Bori, in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State on Monday. as fresh explosions and protests rocked some local government areas of the state.
The violent attacks is linked to Monday’s order by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun for the secretariat of the 23 LGs to be unsealed and the immediate withdrawal of policemen who had occupied the council since July.
Aside from Bori, the secretariat of the Eleme LGA in the state was set on fire, even as buildings and vehicles were set ablaze following an explosion from a device suspected to be dynamite. In response, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the police to return to council secretariats even as he advised those aggrieved by the outcome of the election to approach the courts.
Fubara had told Channels TV that he has done everything within his powers to ensure that the state remains peaceful.
“There is nothing I have not done on this earth for peace to reign. I can tell you the number of times I have knelt to beg that let’s allow this issue to go. I have done everything,” he said.
Asked what his message to Wike would be if they met, Governor Fubara replied: “I’ll tell him that it has gotten to a point where he needs to let go. We need peace in this state.
“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. We need to secure the state.
“Fubara will leave tomorrow. Who knows who is going to come? It might be through him or another person but we need to secure the state.
“What I am appealing is that everyone should sheathe their swords. Even to the minister, my boss, there is no need to destroy this st
“He once ruled this state and the state was an envy of every other state. Another person is there now, what we need now is support. After four years or eight years, who knows? I will also leave and someone else will take over. That should be the spirit.
“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.”
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