President Bola Tinubu has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders, and their supporters in Rivers State to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law.
Tinubu also directed the police to restore and maintain peace, law, and order immediately.
Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Monday that the president’s statement was in response to recent tensions following last Saturday’s local government council election.
After Saturday’s LG election, tensions in Rivers rose, and on Monday, fire destroyed the newly built Ikwere Local Government Secretariat and some sections of the Eleme Council complex.
The Guardian learnt that unknown gunmen suspected to be political thugs invaded and detonated explosive devices at the secretariat buildings a few hours after the police withdrew its personnel from the 23 Councils in the State.
The thugs insisted that the recently held Local Government elections where the camp of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, won 22 seats on the platform of Action Peoples Party (APP) and the candidate of Action Alliance (AA) clinched Etche council chairmanship seat was illegal, saying an unpopular party cannot win council seats in Rivers State.
The group maintained that the six-month tenure extension given by the Martins Amaewhule Assembly to the former council chairmen loyal to the minister remains.
The president, however, expressed deep concern over reports of arson and explosions in the state and urged all political actors to de-escalate the situation and discourage their supporters from engaging in violence or destructive actions.
While instructing law enforcement agencies to bring the situation under control, he emphasised the need to ensure the security of public institutions.
President Tinubu said government facilities built with public funds must be safeguarded from vandalism.
He stressed that self-help has no place in a democratic system, especially after 25 years of continuous democracy.
According to Tinubu, the judiciary can settle all political disputes, and the outcome of this election should be no exception.
