The ousted chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Dr. Chidi Lloyd and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Chief Tony Okocha have flayed the comments of a former Governor of Old Rivers, Chief Ada George, against the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike.George, who is the Chairman of the Rivers Elders Leadership Forum (RELF), in an open letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, drew the President’s attention to what he described as unsavoury and demeaning statements from Wike during the Rivers state congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).While addressing delegates to the congress, Wike said: “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us.....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give back to somebody.
“I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace, anything you see you take.”But George said his forum believed that the minister’s statement was callous, mischievous, unacceptable, and clearly undermined our democracy and national security.
He said: “Chief Wike should be made to realize the importance of the high office he holds and the responsibility expected of him by the Nigerian State. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees the right to association and free speech to the extent that it is not Injurious to the Nigerian State.
“The oath Wike swore to, on assumption of office, protects those rights and caveats. It is rather unfortunate that those oaths are now being broken by him.“That some states expressed support for the Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, and called on his party’s NWC to grant him his ‘rightful’ position as the leader of the party in the state does not earn them the verbal threats, Wike is unleashing on them.“We therefore condemn, in its entirety, the language, the environment and the insults meted out to their Excellencies which we consider as an indirect assault on them. These bully tactics, are the hallmarks and characteristics of Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike.
“The statements and conducts of Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike if not timely checked, may lead to a breakdown of peace and security in Nigeria. That he also chose Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital to release these provocative threats is very worrisome and condemnable”.But Lloyd while reacting to George’s letter described it as unfortunate and mischievous falsehood.He clarified that Wike at the Congress only informed delegates of attempts by some governors of PDP controlled states, to interfere with the process in Rivers State and went on to advise such governors to steer clear of River State as anything to the contrary would elicit grave consequences in their states.
He said Wike deployed hyperbole “put fire” to drive home his point, adding that they were surprised that such renowned figure of speech haf been given all kinds of interpretations with the latest from Chief Rufus Ada George.Lloyd described hyperbole as a rhetorical device mainly used to make something look and sound better than it actually is, a form of exaggeration.He said: “The Minister’s only offence, even From Chief Rufus’ letter to Mr. President, was the use of the figure of speech used in conveying his taught on the subject matter under review.
“It is instructive to state that, the statement being drawn out of proportion, is but a mere smoke screen to the real anger of these ‘patriots’ the real issue is to see much tarr they can pour on the person of the minister to immediately elicit his sack from the Federal cabinet.“It is surprising to see Chief Rufus Ada George, who has been living in the United States of America since after his exit from office as governor for reasons I shall come to later in this letter, who is not a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, not a spokesperson to any of the PDP Governors; allow himself to be drafted alongside Chief Edwin Clark into this bring Wike down at all cost project.“Let me state unequivocally, that former Governor Nyesom Wike is Pan Rivers and has proved this in both words and actions. He, as Governor executed unprecedented development projects in the riverine areas of the state , which has linked up communities.
“He appointed Rivers sons and daughters into positions of trust and has recommended to the president, a litany of Ijaw sons and daughters to positions of authority.“He is on record, the only former governor, who mid-wifed the election of a riverine son to succeed him, even when Chief Rufus held a different view. They held that Opobo wasn’t true Ijaw, a position dangerously championed by Chief E.K Clark”.Lloyd recalled that George presided over high level of bloodbath, state sponsored killings and fueling of communal violence in Rivers when he was a governor.
He said: “This informed his fleeing the country for fear of reprisal from those who lost loved ones, were oppressed and annihilated.“Chief Wike’s sin is his unalloyed support for Mr. President and the public acknowledgement of his giant strides in the FCT., this has attracted jealousy and envy.“I advise Mr. President to ignore the calls by these internally displaced politicians and continue to enjoy the unalloyed loyalty of the FCT minister”.
On his part, Okocha said George and his group of elders had taken sides in the crisis between the FCT Minister and Fubara.He recalled the roles George played to resolve the APC crisis in Rivers including allowing his house to be used as a venue to reconcile feuding members.He said: “Though it failed, but history of APC debacle and attempts to settlement, cannot be complete without reference to the meetings convened and convoke at the lush residence of the elder Statesman. As minute as that was, His Excellency, Rufus Ada was up and about.
“I prayed and listened to hear that the revered Ada George, convoke a meeting to resolve the grouses between his children, Wike and Fubara.“Largely informed by ethnic interest and chauvinism, Rufus Ada George, had elected to be attacking Honorable Minister Wike to the extent that he now reports him to Mr President over an issue he is a complete stranger.“What is His Excellency ‘s interest in PDP matters when he is a staunch member of the APC? What is the colour of the Elders forum the respected Statesman signed on their behalf? Are they Elders of the PDP or the APC? If they are non~partisan, how were they chosen?
“Plenty more questions to ask, to test the veracity, weight and relevance of a sinister motive in all fores, encapsulated in a not clean swoop, but for convenience and time of the readers“Should we agree that if someone goes to the living room of His Excellency, Rufus Ada George and defecates on his couch, the one is allowed to go scot free? What is the threat in one who urges that territories and boundaries should be respected?“Is it because it was said by one who has turned an endangered specie (Wike) because of being vociferous and vehement? Is it because Wike is from another tribe and nationality not the same as His Excellency, Rufus Ada George?”
Okocha insisted that elders _are forbidden to watch a goat deliver of her baby in tethers’.He said: “I would refuse to say more but only draw His Excellency’s esteemed attention to the fact that it is absurd to “throw away the baby with the bath water”.After the Era of Abraham in the Bible, no one has willingly donated his child to be slaughtered for whatever offense the one committed. His Excellency Rufus Ada George is on the mission to break the jinx. Let what is good for the goose, be equally good for the gander.”
