Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has appealed to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara Fubara to work and deliver dividend of democracy to the people.
George also called on President Bola Tinubu to ask former Governor Wike to allow Fubara do his constitutional job as governor.
The Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, in a piece made available to journalists on Monday, said, “Now that the people of Rivers State have boldly asserted their civic and constitutional rights by coming out to vote in the local government election on Saturday, this is the time for former governor of the state and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara to work and deliver dividend of democracy to the people.
“This is also the time for President Bola Tinubu to advise Wike, who is one of his ministers, to allow the governor to work.
“I say this with all sense of responsibility because if this democracy is truncated, God forbid, Tinubu, as the Commander-in-Chief, will be the biggest loser.”
He added, “All lovers of democracy will agree with me that political happenings in this oil-bearing state in the last few months, if allowed to continue, can lead to a re-enactment of the crisis in the defunct Western Region between 1962 and 1966 which eventually led to the first military coup of January 15, 1966. Many of our national figures were killed and events of that day led to a second coup on July 29, 1966 when scores of military officers were killed.
“Since history is no longer taught in our schools, I want to remind the gladiators in this Rivers crisis that the January and July 1966 killings eventually led to the civil war between July 6, 1967 and January 15, 1970. Close to two million Nigerians died in the war.
“I’m raising this alarm because what is happening in Rivers now is a cause for serious concern for everyone.
“My understanding of this man-made crisis is that there is a despotic, divisive, wicked and anti-people design to create a conflagration which may eventually consume our country.
“We all know the economic importance of Rivers to the survival of this nation. It is the gateway to the Niger Delta.
“Any threat to peace in this state will eventually lead to huge security implications, not only for Nigeria but West Africa and Africa.
“It’s good to have political ambition, to be the alpha and omega in a partisan setting but this ambition must not be at variance with the expectations of the people,” George added.
