Wike’s gov ambition worries kinsmen: A group known as Ikwerre National Forum has dissociated itself from the plan by the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, to contest the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State. The group also expressed worry over Wike’s utterances and governorship ambition, describing both as parochial. Spokesperson for the group and the lawmaker representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency, Chief Andrew Uchendu, told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Friday that the people of Ikwerre believed in the saying that ‘One good turn deserves another.’ Uchendu recalled that for 40 years, the people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality fought for the governorship ticket until in 2007, when Mr. Rotimi Amaechi became the governor. “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 tribe in the state for the 2015 governorship position. “This is because they (Ikwerre people) have taken their turn. But that does not stop A or B from contesting. As far as the Ikwerre National Forum is concerned, we cannot support any of our own to go and challenge other tribes to run for the governorship ticket in 2015,” Uchendu said. He also condemned statements credited to Wike that he (Wike) was going to make Rivers State ungovernable, saying, “No Rivers man or woman will sleep with their two eyes closed.” “I think this is a challenge. As we speak, that threat to the entire Rivers’ people has not been withdrawn or a retraction of that statement carried out. No apology has been made so far. “But to us as Ikwerre people, who on his appointment as minister of state for education two years ago, took a full page advert in the newspaper, congratulating Chief Nyesom Wike and also thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for giving the Ikwerre people the opportunity to present Wike to represent Rivers in the federal cabinet. “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. “Possibly, as a forum, we want Nyesom Wike to know that he is unequipped to threaten the entire Rivers’ people,” he added. Uchendu, however, urged President Jonathan to caution the minister, adding that Wike’s utterances could breach the peace in the state. On the agitations for the redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu, the lawmaker said, “The House of Representatives has passed its resolution for Mbu to be transferred, which was concurred to by the Senate. It is now left for the executive to implement the resolutions reached by the National Assembly. “But if for whatever reason, the executive fails to implement the decision of the National Assembly, there are other measures that the National Assembly will put in place to ensure that President Jonathan complies with the decision of the House. For now, the National Assembly is on recess, and we will remain silent until they resume.” Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff, Rivers Government House, Chief Tony Okocha, has given an assurance to the people of the state of Amaechi’s commitment to fast-tracking the pace of development in the state. Okocha, who stated this during a meeting with the Apara Integrity Group in Port Harcourt, added that no amount of intimidation and victimisation against Amaechi’s supporters would scuttle his administration from actualising his vision for Rivers’ people. #PUNCHNEWS
Posted on: Sat, 10 Aug 2013 20:18:47 +0000
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