The traditional ruler of Abalama community in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State, King Dr. A.B. Big-TomTom has canceled a Thanksgiving and Grand Civic Reception being organized for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT minister, Nyesom Wike in his community.
The event slated for Saturday March 15, 2025 is under the auspices of a group known as New Associates, Kalabari.
In a letter addressed to the Rivers State Commissioner of police, the Abalama monarch said the organizers of the ceremony did not inform him and his council of chiefs about the event, adding that he only got to know about it on Facebook.
The monarch further referred to the tense political situation in the state, and said it would not be safe to hold such event now in his community.
He urged the organizers to take the event to any other location of their choice outside his kingdom.
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In the same breath, the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC also wrote to the monarch requesting to hold a crucial Eastern Zonal emergency congress at the same venue same day.
The IYC said the meeting is to prepare for an enlarged IYC congress to take a position on the denigration of the Ijaw ethnic nationality by the former Governor and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.
As at the time of filing this report, the organizers of the Wike reception were already erecting iron stands and making preparation for the event.
If the police and other security agencies do not take proactive steps to take charge of the situation, there may likely be a clash between the IYC and the Wike people.