Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
Political leaders of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality have cried out over what they describe as a military siege of their territory by men of the Nigerian Army in the run-up to the forthcoming general elections.
The Ikwerre leaders revealed this on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Eliozu Road, Port Harcourt, during a briefing.
In a statement entitled: A Call for the Protection of Lives and Property of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality, read by former governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia, the Ikwerre political leaders noted that the call became necessary in view of the rising tension and fear generated by the recent happenings in the state with regard to the cases of violence, killing, threats of arrest and intimidation being witnessed in the state.
Accusing the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the transport minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi as well as security agencies of being behind the rising tension and intimidation of people of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality and Governor Nyesom Wike, the Ikwerre political leaders vowed to resist any attempt to intimidate, harass or endanger the lives and property of their people.
Explaining further, the Ikwerre leaders recalled how Amaechi, who is the leader of the APC in Rivers State, sang war songs in Igbo language during President Muhammadu Buhari’s rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium, Omagwa, on February 12, and also vowed to deal with the incumbent governor of the state, Nyesom Wike as a vendetta.
“On February 12, the transport minister, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, threatened to deal ruthlessly with the present governor of Rivers State, Chief Barr Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. He said that Wike and the PDP committed a crime against him in 2015 and that there must revenge. He said this in the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“He sang a war song in Igbo language meant to incite people for war: ‘O ruola mgbe anyi e ji awa anya; onye ujo abiala nga anyi eji awa anya’ which literally means: it’s time for us to go to war, a coward should not come near. Amaechi has a penchant to cause violence,” they said.
The Ikwerre leaders, who lamented that already, four people had died in two Ikwerre communities over election-related violence, while one of their sons, Prof. Blessing Didia, who is the vice chancellor of Rivers State University, narrowly escaped death recently, warned that if the war drum being beaten by Amaechi was not checked, it could lead to violence.
“We are using this forum as leaders of Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality to call Amaechi to order,” they said, adding that Ikwerre people would resist any attempt to intimidate them with the military and F-SARS men.
They also called on the traditional rulers to preach peace while advising youths to shun violence.
“We call on traditional rulers to carry the message of peace to all Ikwerre Communities. We also advise the youths to say no to violence and refuse to be used as agents of violence. Ikwerre people believe in democracy… We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Chief of Army Staff and all the security agencies to demonstrate that we’re part of Nigeria. They should also call the minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi, commander of the 6th division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Saham and the commander of F-SARS, Akin Fakorede to order,” they appealed.
