Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has urged his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, to adhere to the rule of law to restore peace in the state. Wike made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.
“There is peace when you obey the rule of law. There is peace when you obey court judgments,” said Wike, who now serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
His comments follow escalating tensions in Rivers State, where a feud between Wike and Fubara has dominated headlines. The conflict intensified in recent days surrounding the local government elections, which were held despite a court ruling that barred security agencies from participating and instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to release the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Despite the court’s decision, the Fubara administration proceeded with the election on Saturday, and local government chairpersons and councillors were sworn in on Monday. However, this move sparked violence across the state, with three local government council secretariats set on fire and properties destroyed.
Fubara has since vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, setting up a panel on Tuesday to investigate the attacks. However, Wike maintained that the only way to ensure lasting peace is for Fubara to comply with the court ruling.
“Obey court judgment, and allow the rule of law to prevail. If you don’t obey the law, you are bringing anarchy,” Wike said. “I was a governor; I have always obeyed the rule of law.”
He warned that failure to comply with court decisions invites violence and disorder. “The moment you don’t obey court judgment, you are inviting anarchy, you are inviting violence,” Wike added.
The local government elections were boycotted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party of both Wike and Fubara. The Action Peoples Party (APP) won 22 of the 23 chairmanship positions. Wike accused Fubara of backing the APP, referencing his own political stance in the 2023 elections, when he supported President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) instead of his party’s candidate.
“Today, people say ‘Discipline Wike, he did anti-party’. I did not do anti-party; I said we must stand for equity, fairness, and justice,” Wike said, accusing Fubara of sponsoring the APP and pointing out that the chairman of the PDP governors’ forum attended the APP officials’ swearing-in.
