We had no freedom to speak as council chairmen under Wike – Eke claims

The immediate past Local Government Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State, Solomon Abel Eke has described former Governor Nyesom Wike as too controlling and overbearing.

Eke spoke at a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Ward 12 event at Rumuomoi in Port Harcourt, where also the people of the Ekinigbo clan in Obio/Akpor LGA came out to drum their support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the face of the political crisis rocking the state.

Addressing the people, Eke noted that the current administration has given people the freedom to express themselves, in contrast to the former administration led by Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, where even government appointees and Council Chairman could barely speak freely.

His comment was in reaction to the Council Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Samuel Nwanosike, who at an event last week, called Governor Fubara, “A mumu man” who was given power.

Eke said, “Who are you as a Local Government Chairman to call the Governor Mumu?

“In fact, if they call for a meeting in the government house, you will carry your BP drug in your pocket. I’m telling you what happened in our own time.

“But it’s not happening now. The Chairmen are like Lords. They do anyhow they like.

“In fact, who are you to go to Aba without writing a letter to the governor that you want to get to Aba? Who are you as a Local Government Chairman?

“But some of them now go to London, they go anywhere. That is the kind of peaceful man that is now ruling us.

“He said he will not rule us with a tight hand, that he’s going to rule Rivers State like a governor that loves his people. That is what we are enjoying now and nobody will take that away from us.

“So, I thank the people of Ward 12 for giving us this support. The next step is to take this to the unit.

“I want to assure you that as you give Sim support, you will not lose anything. We are the eyes of Sim in Obio/Akpor. As he’s doing projects, he will also extend it to you.” He added

Eke who served only one tenure in office as Obio/Akpor LGA Chairman, has been in support of Fubara since the political crisis in the state.

On his part, the state chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN Chijioke Ihunwo called on Rivers people to pray for peace and unity in the state.

Ihunwo noted that the prayers of the people and their support for Governor Fubara will see him through to victory in ensuring that the state is not caged.

“What we are doing here is to tell our people that His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara was elected by Rivers people and that no one individual can remove him because it’s God that gives power.

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“We gave the former Governor the support he needed as our son for eight years. We are also going to give that support to Fubara because Sim represents young people, Sim represents peace and unity.”

Also speaking, the PDP ward 12 leader, Eze Isiguzo affirmed that no level of intimidation can stop them from supporting the truth.