The political temperature in Rivers State may once more heighten on Saturday, as two former governors of the state, Rotimi Amaechi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, who are political arch rivals hold significant events in neighboring communities.
While Amaechi will be performing the burial ceremony of his late mother, Dame Mary Ordua in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Wike’s associates led by the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council, Charles Wobodo will be holding a civic reception for Wike at St. Martin’s Anglican Church, Omagwa, also in the same council area.
The requiem Mass for Amaechi’s mother is scheduled to take place at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Ubima, followed by reception at the open field of the church.
Although the time of the two events has a two -hour difference, visitors and sympathisers attending the burial of Amaechi’s mother scheduled to start at 10am would pass through Omagwa enroute Ubima.
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There are fears that tensions may rise between supporters of both camps as dignitaries and supporters attending the events navigate the road to their destinations.
Sources hinted of the possibility of some urchins being instigated to cause commotion by attempting to barricade the road after Omagwa like what happened recently, when Amaechi came home to formally register as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC ) in his ward.
Some observers berated the Chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Council, Charles Wobodo for deliberately fixing the minister’s civic reception to coincide with the day set aside to pay the last respect to the matriarch of the Amaechi family within the same locality.
Some observers recalled that it was the same way Wike had fixed the burial of late Senator Barinada Mpigi the same day Governor Siminalayi Fubara was holding a state burial for the late Amanyanabo of Opobo Kingdom, King Douglas Jaja, who was the former chairman of the state traditional rulers council.
The fall out from the two events holding same day, along the same axis could add to the political narrative in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
