Leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in wakirike kingdom, have rebutted comments made by former Minister of Transport and stakeholder of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP , Abiye Sekibo, suggesting that the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, did nothing for Okrikans during his reign as Governor of the state.
The resolutions reached after the crucial meeting was contained in a communiqué, signed by over 40 leaders and read as follows: , A COMMUNIQUÈ ISSUED AT THE END OF A STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING OF OKRIKA, OGU/BOLO AND PORT HARCOURT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA CHAPTERS OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) HELD ON FRIDAY THE 9TH OF OCTOBER, 2020 IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE The leaders and stakeholders of APC in Okrika, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Areas and Port Harcourt State Constituency 2 in PHALGA held a crucial meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday the 9th day of October, 2020. The forum reviewed prevailing political and economic developments in our dear Rivers State; in particular, the recent developments in Wakirike Nation which led to vilification and malignity by some political wheeler dealers in the PDP against the Honourable Minister of Transportation and former Rivers State governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi CON, with an ultimate goal of portraying the good people of Wakirike Nation as ingrates.
As critical stakeholders and custodians of our traditional and democratic ethos, it therefore behooved on us, to condemn in totality, the mischievous and self-serving statements as they were not only untrue but unintelligently contrived to procure an evil alliance with the Emperor of Rivers State, aimed at unleashing another reign of terror on the Wakirike Nation for the selfish control of its political territory thereby returning her to another era of ignominy. On a dire need to put the records straight, we rose from the meeting with the following resolutions, to wit:
Amaechi’s Alleged Disrespect For Our Traditional Institutions 1. The forum recalls that during the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as governor of Rivers State, traditional rulers/institutions were highly respected and accorded their pride of place. It was in demonstration of this respect for exalted stools, that Amaechi ensured peace was restored in Okirika. In furtherance of his respect for traditional institutions and love for Wakirike Kingdom, Amaechi, personally attended the coronation ceremony of the Amanyanabo of Ogoloma in 2014 and equally built and named a 44,000 capacity stadium after a respected Wakirike son, the prestigious Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Igwuruta-Ali Rivers State. Therefore, we frown at the shallow comparison of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi to his successor, Mr. Nyesom Wike in this regard.
Rivers people were dumbfounded a fortnight ago, watching on national TV, Governor Wike; infamous for his “Uthman Dan Fodio treatment” on Rivers traditional rulers, in a saintly obeisance before the Oba of Benin. For this reason, we call on our revered traditional rulers to ignore the mischief makers whose stock-in-trade is to fan embers of war by luring unsuspecting paramount rulers into partsan political activities, thereby plunging their stools into crisis and eventually bringing them to disrepute. They are advised to play fatherly roles to all, irrespective of political leanings. The Morality Of Dr. Abiye Sekibo To Speak On Wakirike Affairs
2. We express rude shock at the sudden love for Wakirike people by Chief Dr. Abiye Sekibo, a son of Okrika, who has never applied himself for the benefit of Wakirike Nation. We find it rather strange that he would cast aspersions on the former governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, whose tenure, midwifed and nurtured the restoration of peace and transformational developments at all levels in Wakirike Kingdom. We walk down memory lane with heavy hearts, over reflections of Dr. Abiye Sekibo’s reign as SSG, which orchestrated killings, intimidations, maiming and destruction of properties.
The sack of Okuru-Ama community in Port Harcourt, gruesome killings of innocent promising youths of Wakirike and wanton destruction of properties like that of his benefactor, Chief Rufus Ada George, whose houses in Okirika were not spared the treachery of the former SSG.
3. Also, as a Secretary to State Government, Dr. Abiye Sekibo, the Okrika born politician, didn’t attract a single developmental project to Wakirike people. Rather, the infrastructural developments in Wakirike were championed by Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Projects like the Okrika Ring Road and Bolo historic bridge that were awarded by a previous State Government to a prominent Okrika son, who took huge sums of money for mobilization and mindlessly abandoned the project, were re-appraised in terms of design and scope and re-awarded to more competent contractors who promptly completed them for the use and benefit of the Wakirike people and general public. We challenge Dr. Sekibo to pick a date when he will stand side by side the projects he attracted to Wakirike as SSG and Minister of Transport, while we pledge to make ourselves available to stand by the 32 Model Primary Schools and 15 Primary Health Centres built by the Amaechi administration across communities in Wakirike Kingdom.
We may not bother showcasing the reclamation/shore protection sites, construction of several kilometers of roads, a standard football stadium at Niger Street, reconstruction of the ultra-modern New Layout Market, Rex Jim-Lawson Cultural Centre, amongst several people-oriented projects too numerous to mention executed by the then governor of Rivers State in Wakirike land. One is compelled to ask, has Dr. Sekibo and his ilk suddenly developed amnesia overnight? Where lies their locus standi in drawing comparisons between Nyesom Wike and Amaechi? Was this not the same Abiye Sekibo who with a stroke of pen authored the letter which stopped the construction of the first bridge project linking Okirika to Port Harcourt, cutting across Igbiri, Abibo, Oba, Okujagu and Okuru-Ama communities? What a world!
Human Capital Development Of Wakirike Nation 4. The forum recognizes and appreciates Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi’s previous and present show of magnanimity for Wakirike people by ensuring human capacity development for our younger generation. We recall with excitement his sponsorship of a total of 195 Wakirike indigenes for oversea and local scholarships in undergraduate and postgraduate studies categories. As a former governor of Rivers State and present minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi attracted legions of state and federal appointments to Wakirike people, some of whose beneficiaries are Mrs. Ibim Seminitari, a former Commissioner for Information and Communications, and later a former Acting Managing Director of Niger Development Commission (NDDC), the trio of Dr. Sampson Parker, Dame Alice Lawrence-Nemi and Hon. Boma Iyaye who served as Commissioners for Health, Housing, Education and Sports respectively for a record of eight years.
We won’t forget in a hurry, numerous appointments into boards and parastatals and the several Special Advisers who served under him from our ethnic nationality. Presently, Dame Dr. Maureen Tamuno is a current Non-Career Ambassador and Chief Francis Ebenezer is an Executive Director Finance and Administration in the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), courtesy of Amaechi. A feat the Okrika born Abiye Sekibo as SSG and former minister could not achieve for his people.
5. Defection Of Dr. Parker We also considered the political activities over the weekend and viewed the reported defection of Dr. Sampson Parker, a former associate of the APC and most recently, a chieftain and leader of the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) in Rivers State, to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as a welcome development. Nevertheless, we condemn his act of chicanery and spurious claims that he left the APC for the PDP with over 2000 supporters. We dare him to make public who these persons are. However, as our brother, we wish him well in his future political endeavors.
6. Insecurity in Rivers state And Development Of Wakirike Nation The leadership forum reiterates its firm belief that security of lives and properties of Wakirike people is non negotiable and paramount.
She argues that security is a sine qua non to sustainable infrastructural and economic development of Wakirike people, as such, we dismiss Wike’s attempt to throw Wakirike into another round of crisis, with the primary motive of subverting the fulfilment of his campaign promises in 2015. Wike’s preference for campaigns of calumny against his former boss and benefactor, Chibuike Amaechi, over the fine art of purposeful governance is also to say the least, very disheartening. We are fully aware of Wike’s sleepless nights over the enviable groundbreaking performances of Mr. Amaechi in the transportation sector, consequently, we advise Governor Wike not to distract the honourable minister but rather concentrate his efforts on fixing the myriads of challenges bedeviling Rivers State since his assumption of office. We are also shocked to note, that there is no signature project in Wakirike Kingdom as a show of gratitude to our Wakirike born mother, daughter and sister, Dame Dr. Patience Jonathan, on whose back Wike rode to power in 2015. Apology And Appreciation
7. The forum regrets any embarrassment(s) these aforementioned acts of malfeasance may have cost our dear leader, H.E Chibuike Amaechi. We therefore seize this opportunity to sincerely apologize to the former governor and Minister of Transportation, for the uncomplimentary remarks made by the Governor Wike, Dr. Abiye Sekibo (Amaechi’s predecessor in the transportation ministry, whose abysmal performance contributed to the comatose state of our railways, airports and seaports– a sector, Amaechi has miraculously transformed), Amb. Desmond Akawor and their co-travellers.
We urge him not to view the Wakirike people as ingrates; commending him for his love for Wakirike Nation and the monumental developmental strides he bequeathed to our people during his tenure as governor. The forum further charges him not be deterred in advancing the cause of Wakirike Nation and Nigerians at large.
Finally, as a political party, we declare our irrevocable commitment to sustainable peace not just in Wakirike but the entire State. In so doing, we caution the unsuspecting public to be mindful in their dealings with these unscrupulous elements in our midst with a view to forestall the breakdown of law and order. Long live the Wakirike Nation! Long live Rivers State!! Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!! Done in Port Harcourt, 9th day of October, 2020. Signed:
