Ada-George Fingers Wike As Mastermind Of Rivers Emergency Rule

A FORMER governor of Rivers State, Chief Rufus Ada-George, has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, of being behind the lingering political crisis in the state, including the declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, as well as the recent appointment of sole administrators for the 23 local government by the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, despite a subsisting court order.
Ada-George, governor of the state between 1992 and 1993, and current Chairman the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum, who made the allegation during a media briefing on latest political developments in the state, said Wike “is the architect of all these things.
“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.”
He recalled that the minister was in the state days before Ibas announced the appointments, adding: “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.
“The appointment of sole administrators is unconstitutional. There are laid down legal processes for constituting local government leadership. This action undermines those principles.”
Assuring that the Forum would continue to seek peaceful solutions, the former governor warned that Rivers people would not fold their arms in the face of 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.
“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.
“We will go to court where necessary. We have cases in court at the moment, and we will continue.”