Ekpeye people in their thousands, including members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have declared support for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State.
They made their stand known on Thursday when a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, hosted leaders, executive members, and stalwarts of the PDP and the APC in Ahoada East and Ahoada West LGAs, at Ochigba Town.
Nwuche, who holds the traditional title of Esama Ekpeye Loogbo, expressed gratitude to party members for their tireless efforts in mobilising the community for the end-of-year thanksgiving and a civic reception for Wike.
Nwuche, who is also widely regarded and accepted as the political leader of Ekpeye People, commended them for their extraordinary courage and steadfastness despite the challenges caused by the ongoing crisis in Rivers.
He said it was unusual for people to continue waxing strong after working to install a government without getting any recognition or reward.
He said: “Many of you have shown remarkable dedication and perseverance, staying committed to the party’s ideals despite the difficulties. It’s not easy to keep faith when it seems like the odds are against you, but you have done just that.”
Nwuche emphasized the importance of consistency and perseverance, stressing that growth and progress required staying committed to a cause.
He encouraged party members to remain steadfast in their support for Wike insisting that Wike stood out among other governors in leaving lasting legacies in Ekpeye Kingdom.
He said Wike’s administration brought over 18 projects to Ekpeye land, including the Campus of Rivers State University in Ahoada, the Ahoada-Omoku road and the Ochigba Road, which he said was initially awarded by Amaechi’s government but abandoned until Wike’s intervention.
Nwuche also commended Wike for empowering a company in Ahoada, which created jobs for over 1000 youths in the region.
He noted that the company built a yard, trained youths in various skills and procured an Alsphat plant, saying the previous administration made efforts to bring industries and businesses to the Ahoada zone of the state by providing people with a means of livelihood.
He regretted that the project was eventually abandoned because of politics, and small mindedness of the present administration.
He said: “Coming to the governors of this state, I have known all of them, from Ada George, up to Amaechi before Wike, I know them one on one. Let me ask you, sincerely, have there been any development you can point to in Ekpeye land before Wike’s time?
“Just point to one, we had other governors here, we had Ada George, we had Peter Odili, Amaechi, point to one development. We had other governors before Wike. None of them left any legacy in Ekpeye, no development, no road projects, no water projects, no electrification, nothing”.
Nwuche advised leaders to have a large heart and not use their offices to witch-hunt Rivers sons and daughters.
He praised Wike for his ability to forgive and empower people, citing the example of Senator Magnus Abe, who opposed Wike but has now joined him.
He said: ” You do not abandon project because you didn’t award them, or because those who sponsored the company are not with you. You should think about the state, when you do that you demarket the state, empowerment is about giving people money, it is about planting industries, bringing in businesses that they can find a means of livelihood directly from.
“So, that is why, you see, I am supporting Wike hundred per cent. Because many of them who were in power as governors used their offices to witch hunt Rivers sons and daughters. I have borne the brunt of their witch hunt, many of you are aware of that. One of them, when he was minister, a company we bought had a project with NPA he cancelled it.
“That company would have employed people from here and Rivers State. So, all I will advise is that those, who are expected to lead, should have a large heart. If you are parochial, or small minded, you can’t be a leader. And that is why I like Wike. People who were in APC who opposed Wike have now joined him, because he forgives. People like Abe are now with Wike because he forgives, and have a large heart and able to empower people.
“Under this past governors that I mentioned before Wike, mention one Ekpeye billionaire that they made. Mention one person. So Ekpeye has no billionaires? They were governors for how many years, a few of them four trillion passed through their hands in four years but they could not build one person in Ekpeye. Till today, until Wike came. So, please let us look at people who mean well for the masses and follow them”.
The Special Guest of Honour and former Council Chairman of Ahoada-West, Hope Ikriko revealed that despite having grievances with former Governors of Rivers State, they would exercise restraint.
Ikiriko noted that the Ahoada PDP and APC party faithful had defied the impression that only those in government could reap benefits observing that some members of the PDP and APC were looking “far better” than those, who had defected to other parties.
He also corrected an impression by a former Chairman of ONELGA, who claimed that Wike asked them to submit letterhead documents authorising the withdrawal of N20million monthly from their allocation.
Describing the claims as a “blatant lie”, Ikiriko advised the crowd to remain steadfast and patient, saying that Wike’s leadership was organic and would continue to inspire loyalty.
He praised Wike for protecting everyone, regardless of party affiliation, and for standing up for the truth.
He said: “Let me conclude by correcting an impression that one of my former colleagues made recently on social media. The former Chairman ONELGA, who said the former governor asked us to submit letterhead paper and asked us to sign authorising him to take N20million from our allocation every monthly, that is a blatant lie!
“Nothing of such happened. On that note, let me advise you, whatever you are seeing today will fizzle out. We cannot advise anyone of you to take issues with any elder in the state and begin to insult people.
“There are several and better ways to defend your leader and stand by your leader. And that is why we are standing by him. We have things to say to all the former governors but wisdom demands that we listen when it is not your place to speak.”