Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has responded to an appeal for peace made by his successor, Siminalayi Fubara.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, October 8, Wike told Fubara to follow the rule of law for peace to reign in the state.

The state has been a hotbed of violence before, during, and after the local council elections held over the weekend.

“There is peace when you obey the rule of law. There is peace when you obey court judgments,” the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said.

It is remembered that Governor Siminalayi Fubara made headlines after defying a court order that barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voter register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the exercise.

The court also directed the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) not to provide security for the election.

These directives were disregarded by the Fubara-led government, as he insisted that the elections must proceed as scheduled.

The chairpersons and councilors were sworn in on Monday, October 7, triggering another wave of violence in the state. Three local government council secretariats were set ablaze, and properties were destroyed.

Fubara has vowed to identify the masterminds of the attacks and on Tuesday set up a panel to investigate the incidents.

However, Wike maintains that Fubara should adhere to the court verdict to bring peace to the state.

“Obey court judgement, and allow the rule of law to prevail. If you don’t obey the law, you are bringing anarchy,” he said.

“I was a governor, I have always obeyed the rule of law. You heard the governor say that our state is turning into a state of anarchy where people do not obey the rule of law.

“You must obey the judgement of the court. You must not take the law into your own hands. The moment you don’t obey court judgement, you are inviting anarchy, you are inviting violence,” Wike said.