Rivers Elders Condemn Wike’s Threats To Governors

The Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, condemning the recent threats made by former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

In the letter, the forum expressed concern over Wike’s statement on August 31, 2024, in which he threatened to “put fire” in states whose governors oppose him. The elders described the statement as “callous, mischievous, unacceptable, and a clear undermining of democracy and national security.”

Speaking On-behalf of Rivers Elders and Leadership Forum, Former Governor of the State and Chairman of the Forum Rufus Ada George,  reminded Wike of the importance of the office he holds and the responsibility expected of him by the Nigerian State. 

He quoted a great novelist, saying, “words are like bullets, once fired cannot be recalled and they are bound to cause damage either intended or unintended.”

The elders argued that Wike’s oath of office protects the rights to association and free speech, but noted that he is now breaking those oaths.

The letter reads in part: “We believe that Chief Wike should be made to realize the importance of the high office he holds and the responsibility expected of him by the Nigerian State… His threats to ‘put fire’ in states are unacceptable and undermine our democracy and national security.

“That some states expressed support for the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and called on his party’s NWC to grant him his “rightful” position as the leader of the party in the state does not earn them the verbal threats, Wike is unleashing on them. 

“We therefore condemn, in its entirety, the language, the environment and the insults meted out to their Excellencies which we consider as an indirect assault on them. These bully tactics, are the hallmarks and characteristics of Nyesom Wike.”

The elders described Wike’s statements as a “threat to public peace” with the potential to erode public confidence in political leaders and institutions.

 They appealed to the Minister to join hands in quenching the fire rather than poking and wreaking new ones.

The forum condemned Wike’s use of the term “my structure,” stating that the political structure in Rivers State belongs to the people, not him. 

They highlighted Wike’s political antecedents, emphasizing that he is a product of the Rivers political family and not its owner.

The elders urged President Tinubu to reflect on their concerns and take necessary actions to ensure unity, peace, and progress in Rivers State and Nigeria. They requested the President to direct the Inspector General of Police to unlock the 23 Local Government Council Offices in Rivers State and allow for smooth operations.

They, however, appealed to the President to address Wike’s apparent desperation for power and investigate the threat statements to bring the generated tension to rest.

Rivers Elders Condemn Wike’s Threats To Governors is first published on The Whistler Newspaper