Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, has expressed disappointment that certain elders in Rivers State, who ignored the actions of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara when he was behaving like an emperor, are now speaking “like children who lost their most prized toys.”
In a statement released on Thursday, Olayinka found it both amusing and unfortunate that former Rivers State Governor Ada George, who previously supported Fubara while he was withholding salaries and entitlements from fellow Rivers indigenes serving in the State House of Assembly, is now commenting on who should be held responsible for the state of emergency in the state.
During a media briefing, Ada George accused the FCT Minister of being behind the current political crisis in Rivers State, including the imposition of a state of emergency and the appointment of sole administrators across all 23 local government areas.
In response, Olayinka remarked that individuals like Ada George do not possess the qualities necessary to be regarded as elders. He stated: “Unlike these people masquerading as ‘Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum’, genuine elders maintain a neutral position during conflicts among younger individuals to uphold their credibility and respect while addressing the issues at the high table.”
He added: “When Fubara was orchestrating the burning and demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly, supposed elders like Ada George were hailing him. They claimed it was normal for three members to run a House of Assembly of 32 members, with 11 as a quorum of one-third that can sit and 22 as two-thirds that can pass budgets.”
“When the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, intervened in the crisis and resolutions were signed by all parties, it was this same Ada George who described the President’s intervention as ‘executive rascality.’
“He (Ada George) further stated that the President’s intervention ‘contravened the doctrine and practice of separation of powers and unilaterally suspended the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’ They were everywhere labelling the President a meddlesome interloper while praising Fubara.”
“Even after the Supreme Court issued a clear and unambiguous ruling, Ada George and his so-called elders still failed to urge Fubara to abandon his high-handedness and lawlessness. Instead, they watched as he issued threats, including openly declaring that he would give instructions on what to do at the appropriate time.”
“True to his threats, Fubara followed through, and Nigerians witnessed the consequences when oil pipelines began to erupt in flames.”
“Now that Fubara’s lawlessness has led to the imposition of emergency rule, the same elders who neglected to act like true elders are now lamenting like children whose most prized toys have been taken away. It is both amusing and regrettable.”
“They have even transformed into monitoring spirits, keeping tabs on when Wike visits Rivers State and when he departs, as if it has become illegal for a Minister to visit his home state and engage freely with the people.”
While urging Ada George and his Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum to take responsibility for their partisanship during a time when neutrality was necessary, Olayinka stated: “The moment an elder takes sides in a conflict between two children, such an elder forfeits their right to intervene and resolve the conflict.”
