Rivers: Wike lists conditions for peace

Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said no amount of blackmail will bring peace to Rivers State.

For peace to reign in the state, Wike said all critical stakeholders, including members of the National Assembly, must be involved with sincerity of purpose.

He stated that the declaration of emergency rule averted calamities that would have occurred in the state.

Wike, a former Governor of the state, stated this while speaking at a Thanksgiving service during the 70th birthday of a former federal lawmaker, Ken Chikere, in Port Harcourt, on Friday.

The FCT minister said the myriad of protests in the state would not restore the suspended leaders.

He berated the traditional rulers and other leaders who he claimed had taken sides in the state’s political crisis.

Wike said the monarchs had not made any sincere effort to reconcile the feuding parties in the crisis.

“One month after Mr President, in his wisdom, declared a state of emergency to save Rivers State from anarchy, I challenge any Rivers so-called elder, even the traditional rulers, to state the attempt they made to bring total peace in the State.

“No amount of going to television to abuse anybody will bring peace, because we have always said that those who thrive in crisis are always happy when there is a crisis. When there is no crisis, there is no food on the table. Those people cannot be real elders.”

He condemned women who protested naked on the streets to seek an end to the emergency rule in the state and the reinstatement of elected leaders of the State.

Wike said what could bring peace to the state is a sincere reconciliation of both parties, not minding the political parties or interest groups.