April 10, (THEWILL) – Former Rivers Governor, Rufus Ada-George, has accused Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), of orchestrating the declaration of a state of emergency and the contentious appointment of sole administrators across all 23 local government areas in the State.
Ada-George served as Rivers governor from 1992 to 1993. He currently leads the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum.
His comments follow the controversial appointment of local government administrators by Rivers Administrator, Rtd Vice Admiral Ibok Ette-Ibas.
Speaking during a media briefing in Port Harcourt, he accused Wike of masterminding the current political crisis after failed plans to impose his political agenda on the state.
Ada-George stated that the FCT Minister “could ignite unrest in states where governors oppose his views. That is precisely what I believe he is attempting to do in Rivers State”, he added.
The former Governor highlighted Sunday’s visit of Wike to Port Harcourt before the new appointments were made by the Rivers Administrator on Wednesday.
Rejecting the appointments, George declared them unconstitutional and a threat to democratic governance.
“The appointment of sole administrators is unconstitutional. There are established legal procedures for forming local government leadership, and this action undermines those principles”, he said.
The former Governor also disclosed that the Rivers Elders Forum had written to both Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former Governor Wike at the beginning of the crisis, but neither responded.
“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 added.
While expressing the forum’s commitment to peaceful resolution, the elder statesman cautioned that Rivers’ people would not sit idly by in the face of continued provocation.
“We cannot go physical… but we will resist in any form that will attempt to disrupt or disorganise this state. We hoped he would consult with stakeholders for peacebuilding, to calm tensions, and to resolve the issues between the two parties—not escalate them”, he said.
George reaffirmed the forum’s commitment to lawful processes and legal redress.
“We will go to court where necessary. We have cases in court at the moment, and we will continue”, he said.
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