Wike Threatens Royal Fathers with Withdrawal of Recognition

By rnest Chinwo in Port Harcourt

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned that any traditional ruler whose number of registered voters fails to increase after the forth-coming voters registration exercise would lose his recognition by the state government. 

He therefore directed traditional rulers across the state to mobilise their people for the exercise. 

Wike spoke yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt when government-recognised Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, led by Eze Blessing Wagor, paid him a courtesy visit.

 He stated that the voters’ registration was vital to the promotion of democracy, adding that mobilisation for the exercise transcended party affiliation, hence the involvement of traditional rulers. 

He said: “Go and mobilise your people for the voter registration exercise. Any community where the numbers of its registered voters fails to improve will have the recognition of its traditional ruler withdrawn.

 “This has nothing to do with party politics. It is necessary because it will be used for development purposes.”

 The governor charged the traditional rulers not to be involved in partisan politics as it will negatively affect them.  He directed local government councils to build meeting halls for traditional rulers in their respective areas. 

In an address, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Government-recognised Traditional Rulers, Eze Blessing Wagor (Nye-Weli Isiokpo) lauded Wike for his outstanding achievements since assuming office.

 He said the development projects of the administration which cut across the state have led to the people feeling the impact of government.

  “From the performance of the governor, it is obvious that the people of Rivers State did not make a mistake by electing Governor Wike,” he said. 

In a related development, Wike has declared that Nigerians had realised that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the centre has nothing to offer in terms of developmental projects, aside the circulation of lies.

 Wike also stated that the APC fight against corruption was targeted at the intimidation of political opponents, as the APC only prosecute former PDP governors, while indicted Former APC Governors were allowed to roam freely.

 The governor, who spoke yesterday when he granted audience to the Abuluoma Council of Chiefs, said there was no sincerity in the fight against corruption by the APC.

His words: “Nigerians have seen that the present ruling party has nothing to offer them except to tell lies. They claim they are fighting corruption, but how many APC former governors have been arraigned. Nobody is against the government fighting corruption, but it must be fought with sincerity.

“Even when an APC former governor is indicted by a judicial commission of Inquiry, they fail to prosecute such a person.”

The governor added: “I just heard that they have arrested the former Niger State Governor after two years. Maybe because political activities are picking up and they want to intimidate him that is why this is happening now”.

Wike said that the crisis the APC planted in the PDP would be the first thing that will consume it.

On development projects in Abuluoma, Wike assured the community that his administration had awarded contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of roads in Abuluoma and Amadi-Ama communities.

He thanked the Abuluoma  people for their massive  support for him during the electioneering period, noting that he will keep all the promises he made to them.

Earlier, the Amanyanabo of Abuluoma, Brig. Gen. Bright Fiboinumma (Rtd.) lauded the governor on his achievements, especially the development of infrastructure across the state.