The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, stated on Friday, during the church thanksgiving service in honour of the 70th birthday of the former federal lawmaker, Ken Chikere, in Port Harcourt, explicitly reaffirmed that no amount of protest would change the situation in Rivers.
Wike frowned at the fact the suspened Governor Siminalayi Fubara has continued to enjoy the support of traditional rulers and other leaders in Rivers. He accused them of bias and inability to settle both political factions, as the political crisis in Rivers continues with an ongoing state of emergency.
“One month after Mr President, in his wisdom, declared a state of emergency to save Rivers State from anarchy, I challenge any Rivers so-called elders, even the traditional rulers, what attempt have they made to bring total peace in the State?
“I challenge any so-called 90 years, 200 years, what effort since one month and one week has seen that there is total reconciliation in this state?
“No amount of going to television to abuse anybody will bring peace, because we have always said that those who thrive in crisis, when there is crisis, are happy, when there is no crisis, there is no food on the table. Those people cannot be real elders,” Wike said.
Wike reprimanded Rivers women who have been in the streets protesting against the emergency rule and calling for the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other democratically elected officers in Rivers. He stated, for peace to reign in Rivers, there must be concerted efforts to involve all parties in any reconciliation.
“There is no need to embarrass our women to be naked outside. No amount of such can bring peace, no amount of such blackmail can bring peace. What can bring peace is for you to humble yourself and say for the interest of the state, I want everybody to work together.
“If you are sincere, everybody would have known. I told our leaders, yes, some people have tried to approach me, I received them. I did not pursue them, but seeing me alone does not bring peace.
“There are critical stakeholders that must be involved in the process of this peacemaking. Nobody will be excluded. If any group is excluded, it means there is no total peace.
“Members of the State Assembly and the National Assembly must be involved. The two political parties must be involved, other leaders must be involved. In that way, we will now know that they are sincere in talking about peace.”
Wike urged his loyalists, notably among others, the 27 members of the State House of Assembly at the ceremony, to celebrate their recent victory at the Supreme Court.
“One thing you must go home and jubilate is this: Assembly maintained their seats, and you can step aside that kangaroo election. If anybody says you are nobody, that person must have a mental problem. So, we need peace, but let there be total sincerity.
“Let it be yes, I am not coming to play like a decoy, not when you come and see somebody and you tune the television, people are abusing the same person. That cannot be a sign of peace”, Wike added.
