Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party, nPDP, and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has called out President Bola Tinubu for failing to mention the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, when he addressed the crisis rocking Rivers State.
Eze commended Tinubu for intervening in the crisis which rocked some parts of the state after the local government elections but wondered why Wike, who is widely alleged to be a key player, was nowhere mentioned in the statement signed by the President’s aide, Bayo Onanuga.
DAILY POST reported that Tinubu had ordered the Police to immediately bring an end to burning of local government secretariats in Rivers State, saying that only the judiciary can settle all political disputes emantating from the council election.
However, Eze said the statement issued by the Presidency should have mentioned Wike.
“But calling on Governor Fubara, without specifically mentioning the name of Wike and his blindfolded loyalists in Rivers state to exercise restraint and uphold the rule of law is to say the least, unacceptable,” Eze said in a statement on Tuesday.
“For Tinubu refusing to call his FCT Minister to order, who everybody knows his 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.
“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.
“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.
Eze further counsels 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 of course President Bola Tinubu who are all superior to you in all aspects of human endeavors of their relationship with their Home Governors and for allowing peace to reign in their States while you have become a laughing stock before the entire world.”