Lere Olayinka, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, says some elders in Rivers State who supported suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara during the prolonged political crisis in the state are now speaking like “children who lost their most prized toys”.
Olayinka, in a statement on Thursday, April 10, 2025, described as funny and unfortunate that a former governor of Rivers State, Ada George, a staunch supporter of Fubara is now speaking on who should be blamed for the state of emergency in the state.
George had, during a media briefing, accused Wike of orchestrating the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, including the imposition of a state of emergency and the appointment of administrators in all 23 local government areas of the state.
Responding, Olayinka said people like George lacked what it takes to be called an elder.
The minister’s aide said: “Unlike these people masquerading as ‘Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum’, genuine elders sit in position of neutrality when there are conflicts among younger ones so that they will enjoy credibility and respect while sitting on the high table to ressolve the issues.
“When Fubara was orchestrating the burning and demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly, supposed elders like Ada George were hailing him. They were telling him it was normal for three members to run a House of Assembly of 32 members, with 11 as quorum of one-third that can sit and 22 as two-third 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 signed by all parties, it was this same Ada George that described the President’s intervention as ‘executive rascality’.
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“He (Ada George) went further to say that the intervention by the President ‘contravened the doctrine and practice of separation of powers and unilaterally suspended the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’ They were everywhere calling the President a meddlesome interloper and hailing Fubara.
“Even when the Supreme Court ruled and made clear and unambiguous pronouncement, Ada George and his so-called elders still saw no reason they should tell Fubara to come down from his high horse of arrogance and lawlessness.
“Rather, they watched as he reeled out threats upon threats, including openly saying that he would give instructions as to what to do at the appropriate time.
“True to his threats, Fubara gave instructions and Nigerians saw the outcome when oil pipelines started coming up in flames.
“Now that Fubara’s lawlessness has resulted in the imposition of emergency rule, the same elders who failed to stand and act like real elders are sobbing like children whose most prized toys have been taken away. It is funny and unfortunate.
“They have even turned themselves to monitoring spirits, monitoring when Wike comes to Rivers State and when he leaves as if it has now become illegal for a Minister to visit his home-state and associate freely with the people.”
Olayinka added that George and the Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum should be blamed for taking side when they should be neutral.
“The moment an elder takes side in a conflict between two children, such an elder has lost the rights to intervene and resolve the conflict,” he stated.
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