Rivers elders caution against ‘inflammatory rhetoric’ as emergency rule nears expiration

The Rivers Elders Council has warned against “inflammatory statements” that could disrupt peace in the state. 

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ferdinand Alabraba, the council’s chair, said with democratic order set to be restored in Rivers, all stakeholders should embrace peace and reconciliation.

“We also quickly wish to admonish the few individuals and groups who are still fanning the embers of discord to come to terms with the fact that the crisis is over and stop making inflammatory statements, inciting rhetoric in the media and whipping up sentiments for their selfish interests,” the statement reads.

Alabraba said Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor; and members of the house of assembly, had agreed — before President Bola Tinubu — to work together once reinstated.

“That vow before Mr President remains sacrosanct. Therefore, going forward, they must work harmoniously in the interest of the state. The people of Rivers State expect nothing less from them,” he added.

Alabraba commended the people of Rivers state for their patience during the period of emergency rule, describing it as a demonstration of faith in Tinubu’s administration, whose “proactive” intervention averted the “disaster that was about to descend on the state”.

He said Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), deserves a “special mention for his role in midwifing the entire reconciliation process”, adding that he “brought the parties together for reconciliation”.

On March 18, Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers over the political crisis and instability in the state occasioned by the feud between Wike and Fubara.

The president suspended Fubara and the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months and appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as sole administrator.