Wike Fires Back At Gov Fubara, Accuse Him Of Inciting Violence In Rivers

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has pointed fingers at Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, accusing him of masterminding the violence that erupted in Rivers on Monday.

The accusation comes after tensions escalated between the two over the conduct of local government elections.

Wike claims that Fubara’s refusal to obey a court judgment, which barred the state from conducting council elections, led to the violence.

According to Wike, Fubara’s actions are an invitation to anarchy and violence.

He stated that no decent person would support violence and instability, and that Fubara’s refusal to obey the court judgment is the root cause of the problem.

Wike also emphasized that he would have condemned his supporters if they were involved in causing mayhem, but since he was in Abuja, he couldn’t have been involved.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that violence broke out in Rivers State after Fubara swore in newly elected council chairmen, despite a court judgment against it. Hoodlums opposed to the election outcome had vandalized and burned government properties, including parts of the Eleme LGA secretariat and the office of the chairman at Ikwerre LGA secretariat.

Speaking during a television interview on Tuesday evening, Wike said the violence which erupted in Rivers State on Monday was as a result of the governor’s refusal to obey a court judgment which had barred the state from conducting council elections.

Wike said, “No decent person who believes in the peace and stability of any nation would say that he wants to support violence and doesn’t want people to live in harmony but what is important is that when there is violence and instability, it is for the person to ask what has led to it. I was a governor and I have always obeyed the rule of law.

“You heard the state governor say that our state has been thrown into anarchy where people do not obey the rule of law. What is the rule of law? We must obey the judgment. You must not take the law into your hands, it doesn’t matter how you see that judgment. The moment you don’t obey court judgment, you’re inviting anarchy and violence. Was that destruction done before now?

“A governor came out on national television to say that he would not obey court judgment in which it said election should not hold. He went as far as saying that he doesn’t need police or security agencies before he conducts elections.

“When someone says he doesn’t need the police, he is inviting violence. Who is the perpetrator of the violence in Rivers? The governor is the architect of the violence. Did you see my supporters causing mayhem? Were they seen on tape causing crisis? I was in Abuja and I never went anywhere. If I know my supporters are causing mayhem, I would have condemned it.

“The governor said that the people do not want to obey the rule of law and the court judgment. All of you presented yourselves in court and the matter was argued and the court came up with judgment that by my own view, this is what is supposed to be done. The moment you don’t obey a court judgment, you are inviting anarchy and violence.”