- The minister said the governor was wrong to go ahead with the local government election.
- According to him, a situation whereby verdicts of the court are disregarded would lead to the invitation of anarchy.
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has disputed Rivers governor, Siminalayi Fubara’s account of their relationship, denying Fubara ever begged for his favor.
Rivers State’s political landscape is torn apart by the power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor.
Hoodlums torched sections of three local government secretariats on Monday, blocking elected officials from taking office.
Fubara then urged Wike to relinquish control of state politics, claiming previous attempts at reconciliation.
“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,” Fubara said.
In a Channels TV interview, Wike rejected claims of meddling in Fubara’s governance.
Wike criticized Fubara’s disregard for court rulings and abuse of power.
“What is the meaning of godfatherism? Have I not left Fubara alone? What did he kneel down to me for? Never, he did not kneel down for me, what offense did he commit?” Wike asked.
Wike questioned Fubara’s integrity, citing a botched coup against the State House of Assembly Speaker.
The former Rivers governor expressed dismay over Rivers’ local polls, worrying that democracy is being eroded.
He shifted blame to Fubara, accusing him of undermining democratic principles.
Fubara’s defiance of a court order halting the LG election flouted democratic norms.
“I feel so bad today, in Nigeria, you hear a lot of people who say that nobody should derail democracy. Let us ask ourselves, who is derailing democracy? Who intends to derail democracy?” Wike asked.
“Is it the man who said the judgement of court should not be respected that is promoting democracy?
Wike referenced criticisms from Atiku Abubakar and Goodluck Jonathan.
“Atiku said I praised Fubara for standing up tall. Is standing up tall to say court judgement should not be respected?
“As a former governor, I upheld the rule of law. Fubara’s actions risk plunging the state into chaos.”
“You must obey the judgement of court. You must not take the law into your hands. The moment you don’t obey court judgement, you are inviting anarchy, you are inviting violence,”