The festering face off between the Federal Capital Territory, FCT minister, Chief Nyesom Wike and his successor in Rivers State, Gov. Siminalayi Fubara has pitched elders in the state against one another.
In fact it suffices to say that the two gladiators have divided the state sharply into two parallel antagonistic sides
Today in Rivers it may be difficult to come by anyone who is not sentimentally attached to either Wike or Fubara. That is how bad the situation has become even among professional groups and civil society organizations.
However the division appears to be more pronounced among the elders who should ordinarily serve as the conscience of the society and work towards forging unity and love among the people.
Since the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike lampooned former governor Peter Odili for overly supporting Gov. Fubara in the crisis rocking the state, elders from both divides poured into the arena with loud megaphones and white plated brushes to paint and clean up their point men from any reprimand or blame.
The elders behind Fubara had set the ball rolling in a statement entitled “Nyesom Wike’s remarks against Dr Peter Odili: Setting the records straight”
The statement reads, “We the Concerned Elders of Rivers State issue this statement with a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to uphold the values of respect, unity and decorum that have long been the foundation of our society.
“It has come to our attention, again sadly, that the former Governor of Rivers State Chief Nyesom Wike through his words, at an event in a Church at Oroigwe, has directed insults against HE Sir Dr Peter Odili, a former Governor of Rivers State and a highly respected national Elder statesman of our dear Country Nigeria and his family.
“Such behaviour is not only unbecoming but also stands in contrast to the time-honoured traditions of mutual respect, especially respect for elders and deference to wisdom and experience that we all hold dear in Rivers State.
As elders, we believe in the power of dialogue and the importance of addressing grievances through constructive and respectful means”
The group noted that the act of disrespect towards elders is a serious matter that cannot be ignored, stressing that elders are custodians of our heritage, wisdom and values, and any affront to their dignity is an injury to the entire community.
“This is why we stand tall against the unfortunate remarks of Chief Nyesom Wike and his penchant to throw caution and decency to the wind by insulting dignified persons and institutions including respected traditional rulers and clergymen whenever he pleases.
“Otherwise, how would anyone justify the current disrespect to the Odilis or would we forget so soon how he denigrated Chief Rufus Ada George, Sir Celestine Omehia, a former Governor of Rivers State or the other leaders including Prince Uche Secondus or the King of Eberi Omuma Barr Onyekachi Amaonwu JP?”
The elders pointed out that as one who has attained responsible positions in the society, Wike ought to have known better how to conduct himself and behave responsibly.
“We do not want to condescend to the low level of Nyesom Wike. As a person who holds a high public office, he is expected to be a peacemaker and role model who is supposed to be a leader by virtue of his status as a former Governor, holder of the national honour of the Commander of the Order of The Niger, Life Bencher and a serving Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are deeply surprised that all these elevations mean nothing to him and that is why it is important to address some of the issues he raised in the Church at Oroigwe to enable the public to know the truth”
The elders said the only reason why Nyesom Wike went berserk against Dr Peter Odili is that Dr Odili, in a statesmanly manner, advised him against the impeachment plot of the incumbent Governor of Rivers State HE Sir Siminalayi Fubara in a little over three months in office.
“When Nyesom Wike refused and continued to plot the destabilisation of the government, Dr Odili took sides with the Governor in the interest of the people of Rivers State.
“That is why Nyesom Wike found himself in the burning furnace like the proverbial child who found himself in the burning fire against his father’s advice to stay away from the furnace”
The elders on this side include former senator John Azuta Mbata, Senator Lee Maeba, former PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, former governor Celestine Omehia, former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Austine Opara, former minister of Transportation, Dr Abiye Sekibo, former Deputy Governor, Engr. Tele Ikuru, among many others.
In a swift reaction, the elders loyal to the FCT minister fired back at their counterpart with Fubara describing their statement as puerile and lacking in courage.
In a statement signed by 45 members of the group they warned some individuals stoking the embers of crisis between the minister of the federal capital territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike and the former Governor Peter Odili to desist from the act.
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The group which comprises former chairman of defunct Standard Trust Bank, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, Emmanuel Anyanwu, and Senator Magnus Abe who signed the statement questioned the motives of the concerned elders, alleging that they were individuals who had worked closely with Wike but now parading themselves as supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The elders council noted that despite Dr. Odili’s active role in the current Rivers State crisis, Wike had never made any adverse remarks against him, due to the deep respect he had for Odili.
It however condemned Dr. Odili’s disparaging statement about Wike, made at a Christmas carol service to the effect that Wike wanted to capture Rivers State as his private estate, as unacceptable.
The statement reads: “We consider it unfortunate that the comments came from elders who lacked the courage to let the public know what prompted the remarks by Nyesom Wike.
“Did Dr. Odili deserve respect in return for being deliberately disrespectful to the Minister of the FCT? The answer is no.
“Dr. Odili, an elder and former governor of Rivers State, should not have thrown decorum to the wind in making statements in his quest to please the governor, who was his Special Guest of Honour at the event, no matter what the incentive may have been.”
The council advised the concerned elders to summon the courage to advise Dr. Odili to be more circumspect in his utterances in the future.
“We advise Dr. Peter Odili and his cohorts to kindly leave Chief Nyesom Wike alone, while they continue with their exploitative manipulations of the governor of Rivers State, their new benefactor,” the statement said.
