The crisis in Rivers State snowballed into violence on Monday leading to the killing of a brother to Edison Ehie, Governor Siminialayi Fubara’s Chief of Staff, the father of a newly elected councillor, and about three others.
Also, three local government secretariats were torched by suspected thugs shortly after the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, withdrew the policemen guarding the council premises.
Suspected political thugs torched Ikwere Local Government while an explosion rocked the Eleme council secretariat.
Rival groups also attempted to take over Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni councils.
The development disrupted the planned resumption of the 23 newly elected local government chairmen and the swearing-in of 314 councillors.
Emohua Local Government Area was reportedly taken over by members of the Peoples Democratic Party opposed to the council poll which was held on Saturday.
The PDP and the All Progressives Congress had on Sunday rejected the conduct and outcome of the local government election, stating that no election was held in Rivers State on Saturday.
The Rivers State PDP loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, described the poll as an exercise in futility, vowing to challenge it in court.
Despite the opposition to the poll, Fubara swore in the newly elected council chairmen at the Executive Council Chamber of the Government House in Port Harcourt, on Sunday.
The council election was won by Fubara’s allies in the Action Peoples Party which secured 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions, while the Action Alliance candidate won one seat.
The APP also won 314 out of the 319 councillorship seats in the 23 LGAs in the state.
The new Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Bala Mustapha, who withdrew the policemen guarding the secretariats on Monday, explained that it was in compliance with the IG’s directives.
The police had sealed the 23 LGA headquarters in July following the crisis that greeted the attempted tenure elongation of the former LGA chairmen in the state.
The command said the decision was in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
The police in a statement said, “In view of the recent political developments in Rivers State, the newly deployed Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Mustapha hereby convey the directives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, for the immediate withdrawal of all police personnel previously deployed to seal and safeguard the Local Government Secretariats in the state.
“This decision is in line with the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure neutrality and the smooth functioning of democratic institutions.
“Consequently, the IGP has ordered the unsealing of the Local Government Secretariats, which were earlier secured by police personnel.
“The police will only be redeployed to these locations in the event of any crisis or breakdown of law and order, in which case emergency measures will be swiftly implemented to restore normalcy.’’
But a few hours after the elected LG chairmen attempted to enter the secretariats to swear in their councillors, gunshots and violence broke out in some areas.
In Ahoada East Local Government Area, as the chairman and his councillors tried to access the secretariat, loud gunshots rent the air.
As a violent protest erupted in front of the council, a detachment of policemen was deployed to quell the situation which later got out of hand.
The policemen were forced to fire several gunshots into the air to disperse the crowd, and soldiers arrived at the scene and allegedly took over the secretariat.
During the melee, a relative of the Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Edison Ehie, was reportedly shot dead.
The state Secretary of the Inter-State Party Advisory Council, Benjamin Ogbobula, confirmed the incident.
He condemned the torching of several council secretariats in the state.
Ogbobula, who spoke on a news programme aired Nigeria Info, Port Harcourt, monitored by our correspondent on Monday, called on security agencies in the state and the National Security Adviser to take urgent action to contain the political situation before it gets out of hand.
He stated, “What I know about Ahoada East, is they shot the junior brother to the Chief of Staff, Government House. I condemn the dastardly act in its entirety.
‘’They don’t have the right to take life and the burning of the local government is not a welcome development. They are taking us back. We must forge ahead.
Ogbobula, who is also the Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party in the state, said Fubara was right to have sworn in the elected LG chairmen.
At the Obio/Akpor council secretariat, scores of youths were spotted wielding machetes, bottles and sticks.
The youths later clashed with another group at the council secretariat while gunshots rang out shortly after the Chairman of the local government, Chijioke Ihunwo, inaugurated the newly elected councillors.
It was also gathered that friends and well-wishers who came to grace the inauguration ran for their lives.
Some scaled the fence of the secretariat for safety, while others ran for their lives through the back gate.
In Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, a similar protest took place as some youths blocked the entrance of the council headquarters in an attempt to stop the new local government chairman from entering the premises.
One of the protesters cited the amendment of the Local Government Law by the Martin Amaewhule-led state House of Assembly which extended the tenure of the former LG chairman by six months due to the alleged failure of Fubara to conduct the council elections then.
The unidentified man said, “When the governor was unable to constitute or empower RSIEC to conduct local government election, the House of Assembly considered it that a vacuum cannot exist and thereby extended the tenure of the local government chairmen by six months. The six months is still running, and the governor woke up from his slumber to do a Kangaroo election.”
Online videos showed some youths destroying plastic chairs outside the secretariat even as they afterwards forced their way into the premises after unlocking the gate.
In Eleme LGA, a section of the council secretariat was set ablaze with substances suspected to be dynamites.
This occurred before the local government chairman, Brian Gokpa, arrived at the secretariat with his councillors and supporters.
It was gathered that some properties were looted before the hoodlums torched the building but the fire was extinguished by the chairman’s supporters before the officials of the fire service arrived.
However, offices, windows, doors, and stationery were destroyed by the fire.
Gokpa assured that the incident would not affect the discharge of his constitutional duties to the people of the area.
He stated, “On reaching here this morning we found the secretariat being torched by hoodlums who don’t mean well for Eleme people. This act was carried out around 8am-8:30am.
“It was looted first before it was set ablaze. If you go around now you won’t find anything. The furniture, fridge, air conditioners, everything in the offices were looted.
‘’We are going to start from scratch. It is a very difficult situation. However, since we are ready for leadership we will ensure that we start on a new note.”
In Khana Local Government Area, a man said to be the father of one of the newly elected councilors, was hit by a bullet fired by some hoodlums who shot sporadically near the Rectors’ Lodge where the swearing-in of the councillors was about to take place in Bori, the council headquarters.
Meanwhile, the River governor’s camp has warned against the declaration of emergency rule in the state.
The Special Assistant on Electronic Media to the Rivers State Governor, Jerry Omatsogunwa, condemned the violence that erupted in the state, even as he described as wicked those calling for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.
Omatsogunwa stated, “Is that not witchcraft? That is pure witchcraft. I think four states held an election on Saturday, the same time as the Rivers State election and those people have been sworn in, nobody has called for a state of emergency in those states.
‘’So far, out of the 26 states that were running caretaker before the Supreme Court came and gave that window of three months, nobody has called for a declaration of state of emergency in those states. That is so wicked, that is so barbaric and it’s not fit for modern-day society. The wickedness of the highest order.’’
Speaking further, the media aide asked President Bola Tinubu to ignore those suggesting an emergency rule in the state.
He noted, “We have problems in some Northern states where other things are happening, yet nobody has called for a state of emergency. They gave a window for election, the state high court has said go ahead with the election, what the Federal high court did is okay, police aren’t involved in the election.’’
He further said, “You (journalists) went round to cover the election, did you see any police anywhere? And this is the most peaceful election. I can tell you the police were interlopers; they were looting and carting away materials to cause a crisis.
‘’So, as far as I’m concerned, the election went well and the people have been sworn in, there is no need to call for such wicked order to be carried out in Rivers State. Is it up to what has happened in Borno state; Is it up to what has happened in Plateau state where villages were burnt down?’’
Omatsogunwa castigated the police for allegedly failing to discharge their responsibility of protecting the people.
“And by the way, what is the duty of the police? Is their duty not to protect lives and property? The people that came to Obio/Akpor today, for instance, to shoot for over 30 minutes, did the police come out to chase them away?
‘’Is the order they gave them that they shouldn’t work in Rivers State again? If we know they’re not working, we should just devise a way to protect ourselves at the end of the day.
“If the police know that they are not working because they asked them to leave the secretariat that they unlawfully occupied, then everybody should be able to protect themselves. But I pray that the government doesn’t push people that they now decide to defend themselves.”
An activist and Convener, Ogoni Development Drive, Solomon Lenu, confirmed the incident to our reporter on the telephone, saying he escaped the scene by the whiskers.
Lenu said, “It happened right before my eyes. In fact, God in heaven said it was not my time. I escaped the shooting this morning.
“Today they wanted to swear in the councillors. I was going there with one of the councillors. As we were about to get to the Rector’s Lodge, the police told us to just wait.
“Within one minute, there was sporadic shooting all over the corner, everywhere. They came from the bushes and started shooting everywhere. Unfortunately, the father of one of the councillors, who also came got shot and died on the spot and other people were injured.”
Commenting on the development in the state, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, noted that his Rivers State counterpart had proven himself a true democrat.
Mohammed said Fubara against all odds pushed through with his decisions and actions to deepen democracy.
The Bauchi State governor reportedly said this after he witnessed the swearing-in of the 23 council chairmen, according to a statement on Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State Governor, Nelson Chukwudi.
The PDP Governors’ Forum chairman affirmed Rivers as a PDP state, even though the newly sworn-in local government chairmen and councillors were elected under different political parties.
The Bauchi governor bemoaned the situation, describing it as the problem that they have found themselves both as a party and governors.
However, Mohammed said Fubara, who is the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, is still a member of the PDP although other parties constituted the body of elected officers at the local government level.
He said, “Of course, he is still with us. He’s still a PDP man, and I have to come, on behalf of the governors to show solidarity with him for his very proactive democratic instincts that he developed, which is a new manifestation in the political arena in Nigeria which he had to intensify, and he has to develop strategy to be able to deliver governance, irrespective of party allegiance or party consideration.’’
“He didn’t have a structure of the party in the state for certain reasons, and he had to go out to make sure he allowed other parties to participate within the political space so that there wouldn’t be any vacuum.
“And, I think this is very auspicious, that is very creative and I am very proud of him. And I said, yes, we have lost as a party, and that is why we want to be running away from this.
“Again, he has established himself as a governor and the pride of all the governors in Nigeria.”
Mohammed pointed out why it is inadvisable to ignore a governor at the sub-national level because of the role he plays and the following he commands.
He described as unacceptable the plot to undermine the office and person of the Rivers state governor.
He added, “A governor is the chief executive, he can do anything. He can spring surprises because the Nigerian state is run by governors at the sub-national level.
“Even the Federal Government is a tenant. Nigerians live in the states and local governments, and that is why what he did today is very proactive and creative, irrespective of the fact that he knew his party would lose.’’
“And certainly, because of his deep democratic instincts, he had to allow the other parties to win, and I will just wish that those who have won will see it in their own modesty and willing to give him support because he is not doing it with any strings or asking them to do anything. Let the APP and him have that relationship so that he can govern,” he explained.
Reminiscing about a similar experience, he stated, “I had a similar situation in 2019. I governed a state where only nine PDP persons were members of the state assembly and he (Fubara) is still doing that.
“So, his political sagacity has come to a level where he has become a specimen for democratic studies in Nigeria.”
Speaking on how soon the PDP will resolve its internal crisis and achieve unity, the Bauchi governor said it may seem prolonged but quickly added that true reconciliation was in view.
‘’And that is the more reason I am here. Governor Siminalayi Fubara is the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum. All the governors are with him, and certainly, we are taking steps to ensure reconciliation.
“Reconciliation with somebody who they had started with; the former governor of this state and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory is a must because, certainly, they have come a long way. We didn’t want to throw the baby away with the bad water.
“And certainly, the governors are with the governor (Fubara) because this is our own tradition and fraternity; at the same time, out of our political history as a party that has a history of governance.
“We are still stretching our arms of reconciliation to his mentor, to his friend and brother, and also our colleague,” he added.
Worried by the political tension in Rivers State, a former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, has advised the FCT minister to ceasefire and allow his predecessor, Fubara, to work for the people of the state.
George, who appealed in a statement in Lagos on Monday, also called on President Bola Tinubu to advise Wike to work towards ending the political tension in the state.
The PDP Board of Trustees member said this had become imperative now that the people of Rivers had boldly asserted their civic and constitutional rights by voting in Saturday’s council election.
“This is the time for the former governor of the state and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to allow Gov. Siminalayi Fubara to work and deliver dividends 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,” George said.
According to him, all lovers of democracy are worried that the political happenings in Rivers could lead to the re-enactment of the crisis in the defunct Western Region which raged between 1962 and 1966.
He said the crisis eventually led to the first military coup of Jan. 15, 1966.
The PDP chieftain recalled how some national figures were killed and how the crisis led to a second coup on July 29, 1966, which also claimed the lives of many military officers.
“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 Jan.15, 1970.
“Close to two million Nigerians died in the war. I am 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,” he said.
According to him, it is good to have political ambition, but this ambition must not be at variance with the expectations of the people.
He said that some analysts had linked the happenings in Rivers to the 2027 elections’ calculations.
George added, “I believe it is too early to start strategising for a partisan event which is still close to 28 months away. One thing is clear: Nyesom Wike was governor of the state for eight years. He left the Government House in May last year and today, he is the FCT Minister.
“Sir Peter Odili and Rotimi Amaechi were governors before him. Now that Governor Fubara is the Chief Executive of the state, he should be allowed to work. Nobody stays in office forever.
“By 2027, the people of Rivers will decide, through their votes, if they want him to return to office or not. This is how political issues and ambitions are handled in civilised climes.”
He said that the way the partisan crisis was going, if not checked, might collapse Nigeria’s democracy.
“Now that council chairmen and councillors have been elected, I appeal to Nyesom Wike to please give peace a chance. Tinubu must also call Wike and tell him to allow the governor to work.
“I am appealing to Wike to please let this crisis be a thing of the past. The democracy we enjoy today, many people suffered to bring it to fruition. Some even died.
“We should not be seen to be dancing on their graves because of partisan interests. Only God knows what will happen in 2027 because He is greater, wiser and more powerful than all of us.”
He advised the new Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to call some judicial officers to order over conflicting court orders.
“Once again, I am appealing to Wike to look at the larger interests in this crisis. He should not allow himself to be used and dumped by the APC.
“The political storm in Rivers must disappear immediately, in the interest of all Nigerians,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, President Tinubu urged Fubara, political leaders and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.
He urged political actors and their supporters to settle their differences in court, saying, “Self-help has no place in a democratic system.”
The President’s admonition follows reports of arson and vandalism of public facilities in Rivers State after last Saturday’s Local Government Council elections.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President ordered the police to guard public facilities to “Restore and maintain peace, law and order immediately.”
The statement is titled, ‘President Tinubu decries violence in Rivers, directs police to provide security to local government offices.’
In response to the tension in the state, the President expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state.
The statement read, “He urged all political actors to de-escalate the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions. President Tinubu directed the police to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.
“While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions. President Tinubu said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.
“He stressed that self-help has no place in a democratic system, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy. According to President Tinubu, the judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception.”
Reacting to Tinubu’s statement on the crisis, Fubara expressed worry over President Tinubu’s mention of his name in his statement on the destruction of local government secretariats in Rivers.
Fubara said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, “I do not have any issue with it (the President’s intervention) but I am a bit concerned when my name was only mentioned.
“The issue is very simple. It’s as simple as ABC, everyone in Nigeria, everyone in Rivers State knows where this issue is coming from. It’s not rocket science. We know what the issue is and the issue is not Fubara, it is not.
“I believe strongly that with the recent intervention of the Inspector General of Police, maybe we will have a breathing space.
“Maybe as a result of him pulling his men out of those secretariats might be one of the reasons they (hoodlums) took advantage of the situation but I will appeal that while the men are there, the elected officers should have the opportunity to do their work, at least, let them provide security for them, which was even what I was thinking of.
“I was never of the opinion that the police should pull out completely. No. When they said they were moving out, it was what allowed these miscreants to take advantage of the secretariats to destroy them.”
Governor Fubara also urged his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, to let go of any grip he desires to have over Rivers State and allow peace reign in the oil-rich state.
Asked what his message to Wike would be if they met, Fubara said, “I’ll tell him (Wike) that it has gotten to a point where he needs to let go. We need peace in this state.
“You don’t necessarily need to win all the fights; at times, you just let go for the sake of the good people of Rivers State and the love that you have always professed for the state. We need to secure the state.
“Fubara will leave tomorrow. Who knows who is going to come? It might be through him or another person but we need to secure the state.”
In a related development, the Ijaw National Congress Worldwide urged President Tinubu to pay close attention to political developments in Rivers to avert the breakdown of law and order.
INC president, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
“Rivers is of special interest to the INC as lots of ljaw people are indigenes of the state. The INC believes that the issues we are dealing with in Rivers are far beyond political godfatherism, but that of desperation for state capture by all means and at all costs.
“The extent to which some of the dramatis personae are going with their self-seeking adventurous activities is quite worrisome as it appears that they do not care if democracy is truncated in Nigeria.
“Local government elections are not new in Nigeria. Indeed, it is a constitutional requirement that falls within the legislative purview of the states,’’ he said.
He observed that three other states- Akwa-Ibom, Benue and Jigawa conducted council polls at the same time as Rivers with less rancour.
“It bears questioning why the elections in Rivers attracted such desperation and attention to the extent that the courts and the Nigeria Police became over-interested participants in the drama,” the INC President wondered.
Okaba further said INC could not comprehend how a Federal High Court would restrain the police from performing their constitutional responsibilities.