Kinsmen Turn Against Wike, Say They Can’t Watch Unknown Person Destroy Rivers

• Fubara: With Solidarity From Wike’s Elder Brothers, I’m Satisfied

From securing a court injunction against impeachment in the early hours of Monday, to getting his trusted ally on board as commissioner for finance, the Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara got a major support from kinsmen of his former godfather and tormentor in-in-chief, Nyesom Wike.

But the caretaker chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, himself an Ikwerre man, has warned the governor from celebrating too soon because the future was very much uncertain, especially with last week’s judgment of the court of appeal which he said was a major loss for the governor.

Fubarawas visibly excited when he received stakeholders of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, including the leadership of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, Ikwerre women, opinion and youth leaders on Monday.

The leadership structure of Ikwerre stakeholders led other paramount rulers, political leaders, leaders of thought, women and youths on the visit to recommit the people of the ethnic nationality to the success of the administration and in solidarity with the governor especially with the current political heat he was going through in the hands of Wike, their son.

In his speech, President General of Ogbakor Ikwerre Worldwide, Eze Godspower Onuekwa, said as Ikwerre people, they have had their turn governing the state, and cannot sit by and watch an unknown person destroy the peace that the governor has ensured in the State. He did not identify who he called an unknown person, even though it is common knowledge that Fubara’s major nightmare is Wike.

While commending the governor for the numerous development projects being executed across the various local government areas, including those of Ikwerre, Eze Onuekwa, pledged the unalloyed support of the good people of Ikwerre ethnic nationality to the administration.

On his part, the Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, said the stakeholders of Ikwerre ethnic nationality visited to encourage Fubara, who they said had shown sufficient capacity in governing the State, seen and heard by everybody. He urged Fubara not to be distracted but remain focused, steer the affairs of the State fearlessly, and be sure of the Ikwerre support.

Also speaking, Senator John Azuta Mbata said Ikwerre people had governed the State for 16 years with support given to them by other ethnic groups in the spirit of inclusive politics, explaining that they cannot, therefore, refuse to support others to peacefully steer the affairs of the state.

As would have been expected, Fubara used the opportunity to cry stylishly about the torture he was receiving from Wike, but noted that he had refused to react in same proportion because he was properly brought up by his parents.

He said: “I want to also say this: Fubara is not an ungrateful person. If I were a bad person, you (one) can’t hide character that is bad more than one week, two weeks, one month, one year, two years, eight years, even more than eight years. For 16 years, if I was a bad person, everybody would have known.

“But, even your own child that is in your house that you have given birth to, let us start with even the girl child. It gets to a stage, your girl child will enter the bathroom and lock the door from behind.

“Even if they forcefully put a feeding bottle in my mouth, if I get filled up, won’t I pull it out? So, when people stand outside and say what they say, I want you people to ask them to tell you in their own good conscience, what is that bad thing; that wickedness, that ungratefulness that this man (Fubara) has ever shown or done. But, I leave that one to God who will judge everybody.”

He said the visit was not a time to address those issues surrounding the political crisis but a day to appreciate the delegation and the Almighty God for what He has been doing for the State.

He recalled how people had generated the propaganda of ethnic politics into the crisis but noted that Ikwerre people have come to publicly show support, adding that the solidarity visit explains clearly that they are part of his government and are supporting it to the end.

Fubara said he has the culture of respect for people, no matter their status, and the larger number of Ikwerre people who acknowledge have come to demonstrate their support to his administration.

He said: “What kind of support again do I need, when their fathers are here with me to say look, we support you. It is the greatest blessing that any son can get. So, let me thank all the royal fathers, and opinion leaders of Ikwerre (Nation) Worldwide for this support.

“I want to assure you that not minding what is happening, I will not throw caution to the wind. I will continue to appreciate that support you people gave and continue to give to me through one of your sons.

“It doesn’t matter whether the person accepts it or not. I will continue to appreciate it. That one alone is what makes me restrain my action when it gets to that point when I need to act.

“The restrain is because I was a well brought up boy. My story is clean: I wasn’t disowned. I was a pure young man. I served people, and I have genuine record of everything. So, I tell you with all boldness and strength that I am well brought up, and for that reason, I have respect for others.

“I assure you that we are going to work together for the progress and development of our State. I just want to appeal to all of you, always stand for what is right. It doesn’t matter whether one million people are at the other side. If you are the only one standing at the right side, stand: you won’t get tired. But those people standing on the wrong side, definitely, they will be exhausted.

“Let me also assure you people that are here and the people that you represent: our government will be a government that will give equal opportunity to everybody. It will be a government that will operate a system where no man is oppressed.

“I will not by any means, directly or indirectly, oppress anybody. I want to leave this office and be a peaceful man, walk the streets without security. That is the greatest achievement of a good leader,” he added.