The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart, Bode George, has warned that extending the state of emergency in Rivers State beyond September 18 would trigger a crisis among the people of the state.
Naijaonpoint reports that the former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, South, issued the warning while speaking on “Frontline”, a political programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu.
Asked on the possibility of President Bola Tinubu extending the emergency rule after September 18, George said, “Never, never! It will be a case of yanga dey sleep, wahala go wake am. The people will not accept because you are shortchanging them. They had an election and they had somebody elected. That young Administrator should just leave and go home. We are pleading because there would be a day after governance. How will you want to be remembered? This thing is not personal.”
George, who said the state of emergency was unwarranted in the first place, likened the scenario to the crisis that led to the “Wetie” uprising in the Western Region, and the eventual civil war of 1967 that ravaged the country for three years.
He also warned the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eke Ibas, to tread softly on whatever action he takes, stressing that he would give account after he leaves office.
He said, “We have refused to learn from history, and we have continued to repeat the same mistake. Even the situation to create a State of Emergency is not in conformity, and it will be an issue for the next general election. If you just think you can wield your power, extraordinary power, without caution, they are telling us there are no rules in this country. Was there violence in Rivers state? Was there violence in Port- Harcourt or at the Bonny? Was there violence in Ekwere land? There was no violence.
“They said there was explosion; who saw it? Who died? Who monitored the explosion? The governor resides in Port-Harcourt and you would have seen the humility and the absolute commitment to the Almighty principle demonstrated by him. He has been calm and I want to congratulate the whole people of Rivers that they did not revert to violence or any action that would have projected them as violent people. They were calm. So, why would you now go and impose state of emergency? Just like Fela Anikulapo sang many years ago, trouble dey sleep, yangan go wake am. Wetin you go find? Na palava you go get.
“Now within that period, a non-elective person is there. He was my junior in the Navy, and so I am advising him to be very cautious. How can a non-elective person run a local government election? On behalf of whom? At the same time, you are setting up certain board. Are you the elected person? You are just there like a spare tyre or a standby generator. It will soon become a national issue. You may be called back to come and explain yourself on some things you have done.
“So, my advice to the young man is to be careful. This is civil rule where you need people to behave from zero to infinity. It is unlike in the Military. You need to work with people, no matter what. This is not like in the Military where you are cocooned with certain behaviour. So, he should thread softly.”
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