Rivers 2015: Amaechi’s people disown Wike Posted on Saturday, August 10th, 2013 By Daniel Abia, P/ Harcourt  Worried by statements accredited to the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, in line with his ambition to contest the 2015 gubernatorial election in Rivers State, the Ikwerre Political Forum has dissociated itself from the purported plan. The association expressed concern that, if achieved, the minister’s ambition will deprive other ethnic groups in the state from having the governorship slot in 2015. Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Friday, the lawmaker representing Ikwerre/Emohua Constituency, Chief Andrew Uchendu said the Ikwerre people are very good at ensuring that one good turn deserves another, recalling that for 40 years the people fought for the governorship ticket until 2007 when Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi from the Ikwerre extraction became the executive governor. Nyeson Wike Wike is also an Ikwerre man. “Ogbakor-Ikwerre, which is the umbrella body of the Ikwerre ethnic nationality has also taken a positive step that they will not support any other Ikwerre candidate going to challenge other ethnic groups in the state from aspiring for governorship because they have taken their turn. We cannot support any of our own to challenge other tribes to run for the governorship ticket in 2015,” Uchendu said. The Forum also condemned statements credited to Wike to the effect that those who think that they can destroy Obio-Akpor (Local Government Council) will not sleep with their two eyes closed. “As we speak, that threat to the entire Rivers people has not been withdrawn, he said Recalling that Ikwerre people celebrated when Wike was appointed minister two years ago, Uchendu lamented, “he has now turned to threaten Rivers people. We think that the conduct is condemnable and it is not in the character of Ikwerre people to be so arrogant, violent and uncontrollable.” Pointing out that the statement is a threat to the peaceful co-existence of Rivers people, the Forum asked President Goodluck Jonathan to call the minister to order. “If anything takes place in any part of Ikwerre land or Rivers State, Nigerians should hold Chief Nyesom Wike responsible. This is the position of Ikwerre National Forum,” Uchendu pointed out. The group also dismissed claims that Wike singlehandedly made Amaechi governor of Rivers State. Another group, Rivers Peoples’ Forum (RPF), on Friday restated its call for the arrest and prosecution of Wike over comments which it say is dangerous to democracy in the country and threatens the peace and security of Rivers State and could lead to a breakdown of law and order in the state. RPF in a statement signed by its President, Charles Bekwele, described the comments as a direct threat to the people of Rivers State, that can lead to a breach of peace, calling on security agencies to take steps to curtail what it describes as Wike’s excesses. “First, Obio-Akpor Council was not destroyed. Its former Council Chairman, Timothy Nsirim, and councilors were only suspended by the Rivers State House of Assembly to enable the House investigate allegations of monumental fraud and corruption against them. And the State Assembly had repeatedly said they would be reinstated if they are not found guilty at the end of the investigations. And we must also bear in mind that it is constitutionally the function of the state legislators to oversee, supervise and check the excesses of local councils,” the group argued. Wike, the statement said, “must be arrested and prosecuted now for threatening the lives of Rivers people, for threatening the peace and security of Rivers State. As a matter of fact, his comments are dangerous to our democracy.”
Posted on: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 16:21:55 +0000
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