…calls for President Tinubu’s intervention to prevent breakdown of law and order by Wike Supporters

A coalition of 100 pro-democracy groups in the country, under the auspices of National Patriotic Coalition (NPC), has commended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for demonstrating political maturity in the face of provocations.

The group noted that Fubara’s level of political maturity is rare in Nigerian politics.

In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Olusegun Johnson, and released to the press on Thursday, the NPC called on President Tinubu to once again intervene in the political crisis rocking Rivers State. The group emphasised that Governor Fubara has endured enough provocation and bullying from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his “cultlike supporters.”

Comrade Johnson stressed the urgency for the President to intervene to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the state due to “violent protests” by Wike’s supporters.

“The National Patriotic Coalition (NPC), a coalition of 100 pro-democracy groups in the country, wishes to commend the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, for demonstrating unwavering political maturity in the face of provocations. His level of political maturity is rare in Nigerian, and indeed African, politics,” the statement said.

“However, we believe that the Governor has endured enough provocation and bullying from the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and his cultlike supporters. It takes a person with the heart of a lion not to be distracted from providing good governance despite the level of provocations faced by Governor Fubara.

“There’s an urgent need for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the political crisis in Rivers State. We are aware that the President made a remarkable effort towards resolving the crisis last year by initiating the Rivers Peace Accord, which was later thwarted by Wike and his supporters, who blatantly disregarded the terms and conditions of the peace accord. But as the father of the nation, the President must not give up on the peace of any part of the federation.

“Therefore, we appeal to Mr President to once again intervene in the political crisis in Rivers State to prevent a breakdown in law and order. We’ve been reliably informed that Wike’s supporters, who have been carrying out violent protests in Rivers, are planning to take advantage of the purported nationwide demonstration against hardship to cause mayhem in the state. We hope that Mr President will call the minister and his cultlike supporters to order before D-day.”

“It would be recalled that a fatal dynamite explosion occurred among pro-Wike protesters in Port Harcourt in June. Only recently, Wike supporters led by the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule disrupted a medical outreach for women organised by the state Ministry of Health at the Eliozu Health Centre in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. These and numerous other acts of terrorism and extreme forms of political expression by Wike’s supporters are why President Tinubu must urgently intervene to prevent a total breakdown of law and order in the state.

“We urge Governor Fubara and indeed, Rivers people to remain calm no matter the provocations. We hope that the police and other relevant agencies will rise to their duties to protect innocent citizens from political terrorists. Security agencies must apprehend the terrorists disguised as political supporters to guarantee the safety of lives and properties in the state. The world is watching!”