IYC To Wike: Don’t Set Bayelsa Ablaze

There are heightening fears of a possible political and economic conflagration in Bayelsa State, about three days to the contentious rally being organized by associates of the FCT Minister, Dr Nyesom Wike, against the wish of the state government.

The state government appears to have been concerned about the security implications of the rally, coming on the heels of the crisis in neighbouring Rivers State and against the background of the perceived rift between Wike and the state governor, Senator Douye Diri, which became public knowledge because of the crisis in the PDP as well as the misunderstanding between Wike and his political godson, Sim Fubara.

Some seven months ago, Wike had vowed to set fire on a state whose governor is supporting and working with Fubara, against his interest. His threat came before the crisis in Rivers State got to a crescendo, culminating into the declaration of a state of emergency and suspension of the governor and the state legislature.

A few weeks ago, after Wike and his loyalists had organised a south south congress of the PDP in Calabar, governors elected under the banner of the PDP, including the Bayelsa State governor, Seantor Douye Siri, as well as the PDP leadership, had poo-poed the Calabar event and said it was a nullity.

Diri had also vehemently opposed the conduct of the congress, insisting that as far as the governors were concerned, what Wike organised in Calabar was a hoax and should be ignored.

At the Calabar congress, Wike had threatened those going against his interest.

He had said: “I heard some governors who said they will take away my structure and give it 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, then whatever you see, you take.

“I don’t understand, simply because l hear they got some money and so, their heads are getting big, that you put a hand in my own (Rivers) state. Prepare, prepare, because I have the capacity to also do the same thing in your own state.

“Whichever state you come from, as far as I know that you are trying to put yourself in Rivers State, your hand will get burnt. And you will never sleep in your own state. You will not be governor again.”

These comments have been interpreted to mean that the decision of George Turnah who was said to have emerged as zonal secretary of the party during the Calabar congress, to lead the pack that is organising the rally for Wike, may be a ploy to cause chaos in the state to pave the way for the suspension of the governor.

Those in this school of thought believe that given the denigrating comments by Wike against the Ijaws and the resultant anger that trailed those comments, the Ijaws may want to show their anger against Wike, which may lead to an implosion and a declaration of a state of emergency, as  is the case in Rivers.

The Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, is worried by the looming implosion in Bayelsa State and has advised against the rally, even as they have urged Turnah to back off and allow Bayelsa to remain in peace.

The rally is scheduled for April 12, even though the organisers have changed their strategy, claiming now, that the rally is to thank the president, Bola Tinubu, for appointing sons of the state into positions of authority and to also inaugurate the state chapter of the NEW (Nyesom Ezenwo Wike) Associates.

Critics argue that the new tune came as an after-thought though. President of the IYC, Mr Jonathan Lokpobiri, in speaking about the issue wondered why Tinubu would watch Wike issue threats to governors and causing problems in the region.

Lokpobiri lamented in an interview that “Nyesom Wike wants to go further to deepen the crisis in the region by coming to Bayelsa just as he mibilised the Nigeria Airforce, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Navy, the Police, the Civil Defense, to intimidate and harass the people of Abalama.

“Is it that the president feels that Nyesom Wike alone is whom he needs to succeed in both his governance and then his 2027 agenda where because of our sentiment for a southern leadership, the entire Niger Delta is already falling inline to support him.

“So he prefers Wike’s support alone, whether or not the rest of Niger Delta is burning or is it that Wike has an ambition to burn down states of the Niger Delta in his desire to dominate the polity at the detriment of peace and stability of our region?

“It is my candid appeal as a lover of peace, as somebody who has immense respect for constitutional authority and the president of our nation to kindly advise Nyesom Wike and those behind this desperate means just to make money regardless of the chaos that they are planning to achieve through this visit.

“I am using this medium to advise my younger brother and dear friend, George Turnah that this is ill-advised, money is not everything. We love him as a brother and we want to appeal that this is not the time for such.”