In a move seen as one to stop a court order emerging from Abuja or elsewhere to stop him from swearing in the newly elected chairmen of the 23 local councils, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State on Sunday evening swore the men in.
The Chairmen were elected the previous day on the ticket of the barely known Action Peoples Party (APP), a party lately endorsed by the governor, though he was elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The PDP has been enmeshed in internal wrangling with Fubara, a party platform on which the governor’s predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, was elected governor for two terms. Fubara and Wike have been in a political war of attrition. While Wike is still a member of the PDP, he is feared to be in an unholy fraternity with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which named him a minister; and he has been fighting Fubara because he (the governor) allegedly broke away from Wike political family and structure.
It is believed Fubara hurriedly dissolved the state’s local government councils and called for elections to finally neutralise Wike’s political power in Rivers State.
Amid controversy and conflicting court orders, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducted elections on Saturday, announced results, and winners were quickly sworn in today (Sunday).
The Police withdrew its participation in Saturday’s election, leading to fears of a breakdown of law and order; but the election was generally peaceful, except in Wike’s hometown of Rumuekpiricom, where voters stayed indoors after gunmen stormed the town shooting sporadically and moving around menacingly.
The situation in Rivers State led former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, raising concerns over the political crisis in the state.
Jonathan called on the National Judicial Council to initiate measures to curb current conflicting court orders and judgements which if not checked, will certainly ridicule the Judicial system and derail democracy in the country.
Jonathan wrote on his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Saturday:
RIVERS CRISIS: A NOTE OF CAUTION
I am aware that the local government election taking place in Rivers State today, October 5, has been a subject of great interest to political actors.
The political happenings in Rivers State in the past days is a cause for serious concern for everyone, especially lovers of democracy and all actors within the peace and security sector of our nation.
Elections are the cornerstone of democracy because they are the primary source of legitimacy. This process renews the faith of citizens in their country as it affords them the opportunity to have a say on who governs them.
Every election is significant, whether at national or sub-national levels as it counts as a gain and honour to democracy.
It is the responsibility of all stakeholders, especially state institutions, to work towards the promotion of sound democratic culture of which periodic election stands as a noble virtue.
Democracy is our collective asset, its growth and progress is dependent on governments commitment to uphold the rule of law and pursue the interest of peace and justice at all times.
Institutions of the state, especially security agencies must refrain from actions that could lead to breakdown of law and order.
Rivers State represents the gateway to the Niger Delta and threat to peace in the state could have huge security implications in the region.
Let me sound a note of caution to all political actors in this crisis to be circumspect and patriotic in the pursuit of their political ambition and relevance.
I am calling on the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to take action that will curb the proliferation of court orders and judgements, especially those of concurrent jurisdiction giving conflicting orders. This, if not checked, will ridicule the institution of the judiciary and derail our democracy.
The political situation in Rivers State, mirrors our past, the crisis of the Old Western Region. I, therefore, warn that Rivers should not be used as crystal that will form the block that will collapse our democracy.
State institutions especially the police and the judiciary and all other stakeholders must always work for public interest and promote common good such as peace, justice and equality.
