Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has called on his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, to respect the rule of law to restore peace in the state. Wike made the remarks on Tuesday during a televised interview.
“There is peace when you obey the rule of law. There is peace when you obey court judgments,” said Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
His comments follow the escalating tensions in Rivers State, fueled by a growing feud between Wike and Fubara. The conflict recently intensified around the local government elections in the state.
A court ruling had ordered the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) not to provide security for the elections and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withhold the voter register from the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC). Despite this, the Fubara administration proceeded with the elections last Saturday.
Following the elections, the newly elected chairpersons and councillors were sworn in on Monday, sparking a fresh wave of violence. Three local government secretariats were torched and properties were destroyed.
Fubara has since pledged to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice, setting up a panel on Tuesday to investigate the attacks.
However, Wike maintained that the path to peace lies in upholding the court's ruling. “Obey the court judgment, and let the rule of law prevail. Ignoring the law leads to anarchy,” he warned.
Reflecting on his own tenure as governor, Wike emphasized the importance of respecting legal rulings. “I always obeyed the rule of law. Once you disregard court judgments, you invite chaos and violence,” he added.
