Lere Olayinka, the media aide to Nyesom Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has strongly criticized former Rivers State Governor, Rufus Ada George. Olayinka questioned what positive impact Ada George made during or after his time as governor in 1993.

In a statement on Thursday, Olayinka claimed the only thing Ada George introduced to Rivers politics was violence and ethnic division. He alleged that George supported a militant group called the “Bush Boys” to settle political scores.

Olayinka also questioned why Ada George did not support his former deputy, Peter Odili, when Odili ran for governor in 1999 and 2003. He pointed out that George belonged to a different political party than Odili, showing political division between them.

He mentioned a report by the Rivers State Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008, which said George was involved with the Bush Boys during violent events in 2001.

Olayinka said George failed to unite Okrika people during chieftaincy disputes, instead choosing sides and using the Bush Boys to back his favorite candidate. He also accused George of siding with oil company Shell against the Ogoni people during their protest in 1993.

He criticized George for supporting Governor Siminalayi Fubara, even when Fubara allegedly broke the law by running the State Assembly with only three out of 32 members and stopping lawmakers from getting their salaries.

At almost 85 years old, Olayinka said George should not be encouraging lawlessness or blaming Wike for the crisis. He also reminded readers that George once called President Bola Tinubu a meddler for helping resolve the crisis.