From Alice Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

President Bola Tinubu has yielded to calls on him to wade into the political crisis that engulfed Rivers State.

The president on Monday night held closed-door talks with the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, a former governor of the state Peter Odili and other stakeholders in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting came after weeks of face-off between Fubara and his predecessor who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Although the agenda of the meeting was not made public, it might be connected to the Dec. 11 episode in the political crisis where 27 out of 32 members of the State House of Assembly known to be Wike’s loyalists defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Consequently, the legislature declared their seats vacant.

Wike himself was spotted at the State House premises earlier.

Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Rivers State deputy governor were also said to be in attendance.

The political crisis in Rivers State snowballed into the demolition of the state House of Assembly complex, which was earlier burnt, even as security personnel have reportedly barricaded the entrance Assembly.

The House of Representatives has also given reasons why it will not take up the functions of the Rivers State, which is currently embroiled in the feud between Fubara and Wike.

It denied sharing Wike’s political inclinations, saying, though a federal official, the minister’s actions are personal.

Earlier, Rivers State Elders Council had expressed concern over the court order issued by an Abuja Federal High Court, restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting fresh election to fill the seats of the 26 Rivers House of Assembly members who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) recently.

The elders, led by former Rivers State Governor, Chief Rufus Ada George regretted that the judiciary will be enmeshed in the political crisis by issuing an order that had been in the public domain for about three days, saying it was a premeditated action.

The elders, who addressed journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, after a crucial meeting said they viewed with worry, the moves to impeach the governor, Siminilayi Fubara barely six months in office.

Speaking on behalf of the elders George called on President Bola Tinubu, to as a matter of urgency, consolidate on his earlier intervention in the feud between FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike and the state governor, Sir Siminilayi Fubara, as the consequences of inaction may not only affect Rivers State, but the Niger Delta Region and the Federal Government at large.

The former governor also called on the state government to expedite action on rebuilding the demolished assembly building to enable the lawmakers to sit and carry out their legitimate functions.

George regretted that both Wike and Fubara had failed to honour letters by the elders seeking audience with them to wade into the impasse.

“The Forum reviewed the outcome of its previous meetings and follow up actions which include letters seeking audience with our sons; the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, and Chief (Barrister) Nyesom Wike, former governor and presently, Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The forum reviewed the embarrassing and dangerous ongoing happenings in Rivers State and by extension Nigeria viz: attempt to impeach Sir Siminialayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, bombing of the Rivers State House of Assembly Chambers, attack on the Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara allegedly by some security agents on Monday 30th October, 2023 and other acts of impunity and lawlessness which portend great dangers to the peace and security of Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.

“The forum regretted that neither Governor Siminialayi Fubara nor Chief (Barrister) Nyesom Wike responded to our letters seeking an audience with each of them. The attempt to impeach the Governor of Rivers State barely about six months in office without explaining to the good people of the state the reasons and infractions of law is unacceptable.

“The forum condemns every form of violence and lawlessness in Rivers State and therefore demands proper investigation in the crisis and those responsible be brought to justice.

“The forum condemned in its entirety, the misuse of Rivers people’s political power vested in politicians by the people for personal gains and interest. Hence, we condemn in its entirety, the recent defection of 27 lawmakers without recourse to their constituents.

“The forum rejects already written/ premeditated court ruling by Justice Donatus Okorowo of Federal High Court 8 Abuja on an Exparte application secretly filled in the night by Pro Wike former lawmakers which has already been delivered where he wants to stop the declaration of their seat vacant (an action that has been done) and also give them the legitimacy to move in with DSS and police to start the illegal impeachment of Gov. Fubara,” he said.

He added, “We therefore urge the judiciary and all security agencies to be wary and alive in discharging their responsibilities in order not to worsen the already tense atmosphere in Rivers State.”

In their separate speeches, Captain Sunday Nwankwo and Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe noted with worry the tension the political crisis has caused in the state and called on youths and Rivers people to maintain peace, saying, “We don’t want bloodbath in the state.”Also present at the briefing were former Deputy Governor Gabriel Toby,  Adm. O. P. Fingesi, Emeritus Prof Dagogo Fubara, HRH N. L. A. Ede Obolo, amongst others.