By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
A kind of uneasiness is said to have subtly pervaded the atmosphere in Ogbunabali Town axis of Port Harcourt since the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, threatened to arrest a strong politician in the area.
Residents of the area, especially the indigenes, are now said to be very apprehensive and cautious when discussing political issues outside their houses for fear of who could be eavesdropping.
According to a source who hinted TPCN of the situation in Ogbunabali on Wednesday evening, people are avoiding discussing the issue while those who have reason to discuss it only do so in whispers for fear of being linked with the report Governor Wike complained about.
The governor had, while speaking during the commissioning ceremony of the Oro-Abali Flyover on Tuesday, reported one Mr Chokwa from Ogbunabali to the traditional rulers present, revealing that the said Chokwa goes about harassing and extorting companies located at the Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt.
Governor Wike, who noted that Chokwa’s act was capable of scaring the companies away from Port Harcourt, warned the Ogbunabali strong politician to desist from the act or face his wrath.
The Rivers Governor said: “But let me use this (opportunity) to say to the people of Rebisi, to the Eze Epara Rebisi. I just want to make a report to the council of chiefs, to the Mayor of Port Harcourt, so that you won’t come
and begin to knock on my door, begin to say ‘Let him be released’; I will not release the person.
“There’s one Chokwa, from Ogbunabali, who has been carrying people to Trans-Amadi to harass companies, collecting illegal levies.
“Please, please, with the name of God, whoever knows him should go and tell him, the day God will catch him, he’ll never see the light of this area again. I’m saying it now. He says he’s politically strong in Ogbunabali. I don’t want that strongness.
“You cannot do things to chase away companies in our place. You cannot do that. So, Chokwa, if you’re here, stop it from today. If not, the way I’ll bundle you, you will regret knowing me.
“Eze Epara Rebisi, tell Chokwa. I don’t understand why we do things that will put our state in bad light. We’re saying that our youths don’t have jobs and then there are companies, you’re chasing them away.
“So, how will you get jobs when there are no companies there? When the companies leave, how will you get revenue? How will you give them the taxes to come and pay for all these jobs? For your own selfish interest?
“Please, this is the last time I will beg you. I don’t want you to do that again. I don’t want to hear ‘he’s your Ikwerre brother’. Since he knows he’s my Ikwerre brother, let him do the right thing. He cannot bring down this government. When I leave, if another government comes, whatever you want to do is your business. If that government allows you, go ahead but me I will not allow you.”
Our source, who resides in Ogbunabali, said there had been uneasy calm within the political circle in the area since Tuesday when Governor Wike issued the threat.
“I noticed that people are just being careful, mainly the politicians here. You know that day, when the governor said that thing, many people heard him, even those watching it on TV here because it was aired live. So, while the programne was still going on there, the news had started spreading here that Governor Wike is coming to arrest Chokwa.
“You know that community people like to spread that kind of news. and some will like to add salt and pepper. Even those that were not there, when they hear it, they will be whispering it to the other person, just like gossip. But even at that, they’re being careful, because you don’t know who will hear it and go and tell those the matter concerns. So, people are being careful but everywhere is calm,” the source said.
On whether anybody has been accused or molested in connection to the matter, the source replied: “No, I’ve not heard of any such thing. Everybody’s going about freely; no molestation, no quarrel. It’s just that people are minding the way they talk.”
