Rivers Crisis: APC Hails Wike, Blames Gov Fubara For Governance Failure

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – In what some commentators labeled as seeking to profiteer from the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) says Governor Siminalayi Fubara should be held responsible for the political turmoil that is threatening the peace and good governance in the State.

This is as the ruling party also poured encomiums on the immediate past Governor of the State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, describing him as a “political juggernaut and the Dean of Politics in Nigeria”.

Making the accusation against Governor Fubara on Thursday in Abuja, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of APC in Rivers State, Chief Tony Okocha also defended the 27 State Lawmakers, who defected to the APC, saying despite the governor’s demolition of the assembly chambers, the majority of lawmakers are free to sit anywhere and conduct their businesses.

Okocha stated thus; ”You cannot place something on nothing and you expect it to stand. An illegality is an illegality. Let me also let you know that what makes an assembly is not the structure, but the human beings in that assembly.

”So, an assembly can be moved to anywhere provided the mace which is the symbol of authority is there. As of Wednesday, about 27 members sat and took far-reaching decisions on state matters. You will see all of them signed underneath those decisions.

”But, I tell you a thing, I read a philosopher called Frantz Fanon, he said the gift you give to an intransigent government is civil disobedience. So, there is a case of anarchy and it is within the ambit of the PDP.”

Further accusing Governor Fubara of fomenting trouble in Rivers State, Chief Okocha said; “It is not like we have a breakdown of law and order but this is an internal wrangling in PDP. That they are moving and being allowed to be taken to the centre stage. I had warned the governor or rather advised him. I told him you are opening your flanks to fifth columnists and they will feast and today, he has left governance completely and began to chase shadows.

“Those infrastructural developments that Rivers State is noted for have begun atrophied. They are rotting away including projects that the former governor has completed up to 100% and he left it for him to come and commission.

“He is unable to do anything and he is just after and chasing the mouse even when his house is burning. So there is a complete lack of government and governance in Rivers State and APC being a party now in opposition will not allow it”.

Also specifically referring to the FCT Minister and moves to have him join the ruling APC, Chief Okocha has only kind words for the former Rivers Governor, saying; “I have wooed him (Wike) personally, we have told him publicly to come over to Macedonia and help us. He is a political juggernaut and the Dean of Politics in Nigeria currently, not just in Rivers but in Nigeria at large.

“He is a force and that is why we won the presidential election after losing the three senatorial seats and all the State House of Assembly members.”