Chief Bode George, PDP chieftain, has advised President Tinubu to warn the FCT minister, Wike, to allow Governor Fubara to work.
George claimed Tinubu would be the biggest loser if he failed to warn Wike.
It should be recalled that Fubara held the local government election in Rivers State without the presence of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Under Fubara, the Action People’s Party (APP) won 22 local government areas, with the Action Alliance taking the last seat.
Before the election, Wike and Fubara clashed over control of the state’s political system.
However, George warned Tinubu not to allow democracy to be stifled under his leadership.
In a statement he issued, the PDP chieftain said: “Now that people of Rivers State have boldly asserted their civic and constitutional rights by coming out to vote in the local government election on Saturday, this is the time for the former governor of the state and now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to allow Governor Siminalayi Fubara work and deliver the dividend 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.”
•Clark speaks
Elder Statesman Edwin Clark has commended both President Bola Tinubu and Governor Siminalayi Fubara for the peaceful conduct of Rivers State’s local government elections on October 5, 2024.
In a statement he personally signed, he praised the high voter turnout and the absence of police involvement, marking a significant shift in the electoral process.
Clark highlighted that the election was free from violence and interference, contrasting it with the recent Edo State governorship election that required extensive police deployment.
He urged the Federal Government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate ways to reduce electoral costs.The Action Peoples Party (APP) emerged victorious, winning 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions, a historic first for an opposition party in Rivers since 1999.
Justice Adolphus Enebeli, chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, confirmed the results, noting the election’s transparency and citizen engagement despite adverse weather conditions.Clark congratulated the newly elected officials and called for unity among Rivers citizens to foster peace and development. He emphasised the need to move past political crises and work towards a brighter future for the state.
His statement read: I join millions of Nigerians and the good people of Rivers State to thank God for the very successful, transparent, and peaceful local government elections that took place in Rivers State on Saturday, 5th October 2024. I am particularly glad that the citizens of the state turned out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote.
“This achievement, despite the deliberate boycott of the police from participating in the elections, demonstrates that the people of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigerians as a whole, are mature and patriotic enough to conduct elections and manage their affairs without interference from the police.
“This is a significant and commendable development because there has never been any election, be it presidential, state, or local government, where the security agencies, particularly the police, were not involved, with significant amounts of public funds expended.
“The fact that a statewide Local Government election can be conducted in a free, fair, and credible manner without the loss of lives and destruction of property is a remarkable experience.