By Olawale Lamina
Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party, nPDP, and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze in a statement circulated to Media organisations expressed sadness over what he regarded as politically sponsored carnage that had engulfed Rivers State barely 72 hours after the successful conduct of the October 5, 2024, Local Government elections in all the 23 Council areas of the State, adding that what could have been tagged a befitting 64th Independence Anniversary cake from Governor Siminalaye Fubara to the people of Rivers State has turned to be a tale of sorrow, following the spilling of innocent bloods and wanton destruction and burning down of some local government secretariats by some misguided Youths.He also acknowledged that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) conducted one of the best council elections in the country is no longer an issue, but noting that rather what is at stake is “on the imperativeness of taming the excesses of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike and his rampaging wounded lions. The left-leg in PDP and right-leg in APC confused politician is making real his threats of causing civil unrests in Rivers State.”
The party chieftain condemned in its entirety the barbaric acts unleashed on people of the state by persons he claimed were “miscreants loyal to (the FCT Minister), Wike, while commending President Bola Tinubu for intervening and acknowledging the existence of crisis in Rivers State and nothwitstanding only calling on Governor Fubara, without specifically mentioning the name of the FCT minister, Wike “and his blindfolded loyalists in Rivers state to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law is to say the least, unacceptable.”
Chief Eze who expressed displeasure over Mr. President’s refusal to call his FCT Minister to order, alleging that Wike’s “boys are behind the heinous acts in the State and refusal to allow peace to reign supreme in the State is saddening, mischievous and unfortunate.”
Continuing, he stated that, “Those behind all these atrocious acts are not denying their devilish acts. They have the nerve and boldness to declare that they are protesting the outcome of the Local Government elections in the State and are refusing to allow the duly elected Council Chairmen to assume office while our security agencies look the other way. The security reports about these attacks against the sovereignty of Rivers State was in the public domain as the Governor highlighted about it that 20 people per ward are being recruited to unleash mayhem in the State.
“Again, the deep concern expressed by President Tinubu over reports of arson and explosions in Rivers State is patriotic and a welcome development, but not giving a stern directive to the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to fish out masterminds and prosecute perpetrators of the dastardly acts in the State is worrisome, despicable and highly condemnable. The madness, act of terrorism and show of irresponsibility that happened in Rivers state in the aftermath of the council elections is far beyond calling on the police to maintain peace, law and order.
“Since Mr President either deliberately or inadvertently omitted calling for the arrest of identified culprits of this undemocratic and heinous crime against Rivers State, I call on the Rivers State Government to launch a probe and apprehend those self-serving hangers-on and their evil cohorts who are waging war against the people of Rivers State. I condemn in the strongest terms, the brazen display of arrogance, cowardice, insanity, and acts of terrorism by the pro-Wike supporters, who are wallowing in the murky waters of disbelief as a result of the way and manner they lost out in the council elections and in the leadership of Rivers State.
“While I urge calm and peace in the State, I call on the FCT Minister to emulate the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume who hold superior offices in the Tinubu’s administration but yet allowed peace to prevail in their respective States. That Wike is serving in Tinubu’s government, -a reward for betraying and working hard to decimate a party that gave him the political leverage to become a Council Chairman, Chief of Staff, Minister and Governor for eight years- does not mean he should set Rivers State on fire due to egocentric reasons.”
On the role of the Nigeria Police Force, headed by IGP Egbetokun, he said: “Though the withdrawal of Police from the Local Government Secretariats are in order, but being in the know of security reports of plots to unleash mayhem by these unscrupulous enemies of democracy would have made the Police to guide and provide security to the elected Council Chairmen. Without mincing words, the withdrawal of Police after months of occupation of the council secretariats and subsequent burning of some of secretatiats a day after, made their withdrawal a bit suspicious, ill-timed and poor intelligence gathering.
“If the Police is not playing game with the peace of Rivers State, the IGP should apologize to the State for locking the Local Government secretariats for this three months while other States that have Caretaker Committees at their Local Government Areas were not locked out. The IGP must ensure that the perpetrators of these attacks are duly arrested and punished accordingly. Until this is done, Rivers State will be left with no option than to view the Police as playing games with the security of the State.
“It is shocking that council elections was held on the same date of 5th October, 2024, with Akwa- Ibom and Benue States, but sadly, its only that of Rivers State that was marked out for this level of wickedness just to justify the political idea of one single man. In Akwa- Ibom, we have Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator George Akume from Benue State, yet these two great men allowed peace to prevail in their home States.”
Eze further went ahead to advise Nyesom Wike to emulate Vice President Kashim Shettima, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Peter Odili, Rt. Hon. Barr Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Kwankwaso the National Leader of NPP, Dr. Gregory Peter and President Bola Tinubu who are all superior to to him and consider their relationship with their home Governors and for allowing peace to reign in their states which cannot be said of the FCT minister.
“Unfortunately, in Rivers State, what we have is a misfortune of an Emperor who feels that nothing can move without him.
“As much as all these undemocratic acts aimed to undermine the peace and prosperity of Rivers State, I wish to state equivocally that Rivers State can’t and will never be caged by one man. The State has moved ahead with Governor Sim Fubara as the Principal Actor to steer the ship of the State. Wike at the moment has lost out and should accept this fact and forge ahead with his funny relationship with Tinubu that will soon be terminated,” he said.
The chieftain equally urged the pro-Wike camp to allow peace to prevail in the state and wait till 2027 to see the end of what remains of the party structure in the state.
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