Wike meddling in Chieftaincy issues - Rivers APC

The Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, says its attention has been drawn to recent utterances and actions of the Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike concerning the hallowed institution of traditional rulers in the State, saying “this is part of the governor’s avowed commitment to spite his former boss, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his supporters”.

The APC in a statement signed today in Port Harcourt, Rivers State by Mr Chris Finebone said, “the sitting governor appears either unaware of the magnitude and sensitivity of matters concerning age-old traditional stools or simply wanting to act and damn the consequences in his familiar style of impunity”.

The APC reminded Governor Wike with every sense of responsibility, that as much as he has embarked on seeking vengeance on his perceived enemies, the survival of his short-term regime, to a large extent, depends on his ability to discern between what to play politics with and other actions that are likely to consume, not just the governor, but numerous innocent collateral victims.

According to the party, the traditional institution is at the heart and soul of the different ethnic groups, as diverse and numerous as there are dialects, in Rivers State.

“Just yesterday, the state government sponsored a protest publication by a group of traditional rulers against a traditional ruler marked to be dethroned by the government in one of the clans in the State. The possible outcome of such an action is capable of igniting an endless and intractable intra-ethnic conflict beyond anyone’s wildest imagination” the APC explained.

For the APC, what Governor Wike is doing is to achieve 3 main objectives: It is to further exact a pound of flesh from Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. It is also aimed at serving to shore up the tottering image of the Governor in the eyes of well-meaning residents and people of Rivers State for his role in the 2015 sham elections in Rivers State. Governor Nyesom Wike is also embarking on his journey without destination as unofficial campaign for the governorship re-run election looming before him given the activities coming out of the tribunal.

“The APC believes that no reason on earth is worth the conflagration the governor is about to ignite in Rivers State by meddling in matters concerning age-old Chieftaincy Stools in the State. Therefore, we would like to advise the governor and those who advise him, to refrain from starting what appear to be little fires that are capable of consuming everyone including those who started them” the statement concluded.