Ogoni crisis: Wike disappoints Rivers residents

– The residents of Rivers state criticised Governor
Nyesom Wike’s visit to Yeghe and Bori communities
– According to the local people, the governor should
have also visited the burnt senatorial office of Magnus
Abe
– Some residents, however, noted that the most
important thing is that Wike has accepted to look into
the matter and to compensate the affected families

Governor Wike addressing people of Bori

community

The residents of Rivers state has criticised

Governor Nyesom Wike’s visit to Yeghe and Bori

communities.

According to the disappointed residents, the

governor should have visited the burnt

senatorial office of Magnus Abe to show

concern to all parties affected in the crisis.

The governor and Musa Kimo, the Rivers state

commissioner of police, visited the Yeghe

community in Gokana local government area of

the state and affected communities in Bori and

Mortuaries on Thursday, February 25. However,

they did not visit the burnt Magnus Abe’s

senatorial office.

In a statement issued by Simeon Nwakaudu, the

special Assistant to the Rivers state governor

on electronic media, Wike accused some

politicians of deliberately instigating crisis in

the state.

Speaking with The Nation, some local residents

noted that the governor should have used his

visit to make peace and calm down the youths

of the area instead of accusing some

politicians.

Paul Onyedi, business man, said that Wike

visited Ogoni as politician and not as the

state’s governor.

“What happen has happened the kind of statement

credited to the governor of Rivers state would only

worsen the situation in Ogoni. I was expecting him to

visit the place and also try to visit the burnt senatorial

office of Magnus Abe, not as party man but as governor

of Rivers state,” he said.

According to Akwubi Mathew, a community

leader, the only way out is to forget about

politics for now.

“The killing that took place in Ogoni was between armed

militants and the military, for now we don’t know who is

responsible for the killing but let there be peace,” he

added.

Rita Ndabari, an Ogoni woman, noted that the

most important thing is that the governor has

accepted to look into the matter and to

compensate the affected families. However,

she expressed regret that Wike did not visit

affected people who are not members of his

party.