The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has listed the must-meet conditions for peace to be restored in Rivers State, asserting that no amount of protests or blackmail tactics will resolve the ongoing political crisis in the state.
Wike, who is also a former Governor of Rivers, stated that for peace to prevail, there needs to be a genuine effort from all critical stakeholders, including lawmakers, political leaders, and other influential figures in the state.
Speaking at a Thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt on Friday, marking the 70th birthday of former federal lawmaker, Ken Chikere, Wike rejected any notion that protests, including those seeking the reinstatement of suspended leaders, could bring an end to the political crisis.
He stressed that sincere reconciliation and involvement from all parties was the only way forward.
“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,” Wike said.
He went on to condemn women who took to the streets in protest, even resorting to nudity in their demand for the reinstatement of elected officials.
Wike argued that such actions would not help resolve the situation and reiterated that blackmail or shameful tactics would never lead to peace in the state.
“There is no need to embarrass our women to be naked outside. No amount of such can bring peace, no amount of such blackmail can bring peace. What can bring peace is for you to humble yourself and say, for the interest of the state, I want everybody to work together,” he stated.
“If you are sincere, everybody would have known. Some people have tried to approach me and I received them. I did not pursue them, but seeing me alone does not bring peace. There are critical stakeholders that must be involved in the process of this peacemaking. Nobody will be excluded. If any group is excluded, it means there is no total peace.
“Members of the State Assembly and the National Assembly must be involved. The two political parties must be involved, and other leaders must be involved. In that way, we will now know that they are sincere in talking about peace,” he added.
