The crisis in Rivers State took another dimension on Monday as the Council of Orashi Ethnic Nationality demanded an apology from Governor Chibuike Amaechi and the people of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality for recommending Nyesom Wike to President Goodluck Jonathan as a Minister.
In a statement issued by its Director, Media and Publicity, Ndu Nwobosi, the Council said it arrived at the demand after reviewing events in Rivers State and the role of the supervisory Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike.
It described Wike as not only “a clog in Rivers wheel of progress” but “a selfish and mischievous child, whose quest for power has turned him into a vessel for the destruction of the people and hijacking of their resources.”
As a prelude to the demand, the statement advised the people of Ikwerre to demand the removal of Wike to save the nationality from further embarrassment, stressing that with the turn of events, Rivers people would have been comfortable without an Ikwerre Minister.
The Council observed that against the warning of President Jonathan, Amaechi insisted that Wike be made Minister, emphasising that the option left for the Governor was to apologise to Rivers people over the curse and trauma his action has caused the state.
It noted that Jerry Needam foresaw it, when he described Wike’s nomination as “gross injustice, lack of vision and goodwill, faulty political calculation and direct affront on the people of Rivers State to create the impression that all the treasure base of the nation can afford is the like of Nyesom Wike in the face of overwhelming surge of qualified and internationally acclaimed intellectuals in other ethnic nationalities of the State”.
The statement disclosed that Wike was a contrast of Odein Ajumogobia, an intelligent, cultured and a disciplined man, who as a Minister, brought dignity to Rivers people.
It explained that the only valid contribution Wike has made towards the development of Rivers State since becoming a Minister was his faulting of President Jonathan over the non-implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland.
