Former Governor of Rivers State Barrister Nysom Wike has accused his successor, Siminalayi Fubara of inciting the violence that erupted in the oil rich state on Monday, following the results of the local government elections.
Mr Wike, who is the current Federal Capital Territory Minister made the accusation on Tuesday when he appeared Channels Television.
Speaking during the interview, Wike said, “The governor is the architect of the violence”.
When asked if he would blame Governor Sim Fubara for the crisis that ensued, Wike said the governor’s refusal to accept the judgment of the judiciary completely instigated a revolt.
He said, “When I was governor, I always obeyed the rule of law. You heard the governor said, our state is turning to a state of anarchy where people did not obey the rule of law. What is obeying the rule of law?.
“You must respect and obey the judgement of the court. You must not take the law into your hands. It does not matter how you see that judgement.
“The moment you don’t obey court judgments, you are inviting anarchy and violence. Was that destruction done before now?
“A governor came out on national television to tell the world that I will not obey court judgement.
“In fact, he said there is nowhere in the judgement that the court said the election should not hold. He went so far as to say, I don’t need police before I conduct the election.
“In that case, who is the perpetrator of the violence, I am not blaming the governor, but he is the architect of the violence in the state.”
“Did you see my supporters causing the mayhem, Those shouting No Wike, No Rivers, is not my business. I was in Abuja and not in Rivers on the day of the election.”
Meanwhile, five people were killed following shootings and clashes among partisan armed groups that erupted at various local government area secretariats in Rivers state.
Eyewitnesses reported that gunfire resounded across multiple locations, with security forces conspicuously absent at the chaotic scenes.