Eze: Wike’s Allies Waging War on Rivers Treasury, Protesters Misled for Political Gain
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has condemned the recent protest in Rivers State, describing it as a shameful assault on democracy, the rule of law, and the constitution of Nigeria.
In a statement made available to the media, Chief Eze said the protesters, mainly women numbering over 150 and robed in white attires, were allegedly mobilized with financial inducements to embark on the procession. He claimed the action, led by a former Commissioner for Social Welfare in Rivers State, Ifeyinwa Aguma, an ally of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, attracted widespread condemnation from well-meaning Nigerians.
According to Eze, the protest was orchestrated to undermine democratic principles, noting that it was unsurprising given what he described as Wike’s declared hostility against the Rivers State treasury. He argued that no rational person would prefer a “stranger” with no governance experience over a duly elected technocrat with an outstanding public service record like Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Chief Eze further alleged that most of the women were mobilized from rural communities without being informed of the true purpose of the protest and were coerced to participate under threat of being stranded in Port Harcourt.
Reacting to the demand by the Sole Administrator for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to refund N300 million allegedly gifted by the Rivers State Government, Eze urged the NBA to disregard Mr. Ibok Ette Ibas, whom he described as a tool for political instability in the state.
He challenged Ibas to first seek the recovery of billions allegedly wasted by Nyesom Wike through “improvident and wasteful expenditures,” including unsolicited donations to several states such as Benue, Sokoto, Akwa Ibom, Abia, and Lagos.
Eze warned Mr. Ibas to accord due respect to Governor Sim Fubara and refrain from actions capable of igniting political tension and disrupting the peace currently being nurtured by the administration.
The APC chieftain assured Rivers people and Nigerians that all illegal appointments made by Ibas, including the appointment of Sole Administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas, would eventually be overturned in accordance with the law.
