Erstwhile Rivers State Governor, Ada George has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike’ as the mastermind behind the state’s escalating political turmoil, including the imposition of a state of emergency and the contentious appointment of sole administrators across all 23 local government areas (LGAs).
Elder George, who governed the state from 1992 to 1993 and now chairs the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, made the allegations during a media briefing addressing recent developments.
“The FCT Minister is the architect of all these things,” George asserted, accusing the minister of stoking instability after failing to enforce his political will on Rivers State’s leadership. “He could set ablaze states where the governors did not share his views, and that is exactly what I think he is trying to do in Rivers State. Enough is enough. We will not allow him to set Rivers State ablaze anymore.”
George claimed the minister visited the state on Monday, April 7, just days before the sole administrators’ appointments were announced. “He was reported to have been here on the 7th, Monday evening, traversing the whole place, visiting the military administrator. Then following that, this announcement came through,” he said.
The former governor fiercely criticized the appointments as unconstitutional and a direct attack on democratic governance. “The appointment of sole administrators is unconstitutional. There are laid down legal processes for constituting local government leadership. This action undermines those principles,” he stated.
While emphasizing the forum’s commitment to peaceful resolutions, George warned that Rivers residents would not remain passive amid provocations. “We cannot go physical… but we will resist in any form that will attempt to disrupt or disorganize this state,” he declared. He expressed disappointment that the FCT Minister had not engaged stakeholders to de-escalate tensions, adding, “We hoped he would consult with stakeholders for peacebuilding, to calm tensions, and to resolve the issues between the two parties—not escalate them.”
Invoking the words of Nigeria’s first president, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, George called for restraint: “Surulere, Surulere—be patient, be silent. And I am going to borrow the words of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe to say Surulere, Surulere to all those involved in these activities.”
He also disclosed that the Rivers Elders Forum had reached out to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike at the crisis’s outset but received no response. “We did communicate in writing to both the warring parties… but unfortunately, we didn’t have the courtesy of receiving a reply from any of them,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, the forum vowed to pursue lawful avenues for resolution. “We will go to court where necessary. We have cases in court at the moment, and we will continue,” George affirmed.
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