"Elder Statesman Wali Urges Rivers Residents to Stay Calm Amidst Disputes Over Resources"

Table of Contents

• Call for Calm
• Nature of the Disagreement
• Need for Transparency
• Moral Responsibility
• Historical Context
• Hypocrisy in Politics
• Call to Action
• Conclusion

An elder statesman in Rivers State, Kingsley Wenenda Wali, has urged residents to stay calm and not let emotions overshadow reason amidst the renewed political disagreement between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Wali characterized the situation in the state as “just politics,” emphasizing that such conflicts are typical in environments where politicians vie for power.

He stated that the clash between Fubara and Wike represents a struggle between two political figures who jointly attained power but are now at odds regarding the terms of that acquisition.

According to Wali, this situation should not be viewed as an indication that Rivers State is failing.

Nevertheless, he expressed concern regarding the agreement allegedly made between the governor and the FCT minister prior to the 2023 governorship election, pointing out that their continued refusal to disclose the terms has hindered the people of Rivers from fully understanding the basis of their disagreement.

He stated that only when the specifics of such an agreement are revealed can the public form informed opinions about who may have acted in bad faith.

“What is occurring in Rivers State is merely politics, and I believe people should not overly concern themselves with the antics of politicians,” Wali said.

He continued, “Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the FCT Minister convened and reached an agreement. My concern is that neither Fubara nor Wike has come forward to clarify exactly what they agreed upon.

“If we comprehend the terms of their discussions, we will be better positioned to accurately assess and discuss the disagreement.

“I do not think it is reasonable for me, as someone who was not part of the discussions, to make definitive statements about individuals who are arguing over the spoils of their actions.”

Wali asserted that it is unjust for anyone to enter into a political agreement and later backtrack while still expecting public sympathy.

He added that if such an agreement does not benefit the people of Rivers, the affected party has a moral obligation to acknowledge this and take corrective measures.

“What did they agree on? Was it in the best interest of the people of Rivers?” he questioned. “I don’t believe it is fair to engage in discussions with someone, backtrack on it, and then assume that everything is acceptable.”

In this context, Wali referenced former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who openly acknowledged that the election that brought him to power was flawed and promised to reform the electoral process.

He also criticized efforts to portray the current governor as faultless, arguing that no one can benefit from the excesses of a previous administration and subsequently expect to be viewed as innocent.

Wali recalled how supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the former party of the governor, reportedly camped for weeks at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, from obtaining certified true copies of election materials for his legal challenge.

According to him, benefiting from such actions and then claiming moral superiority is hypocritical.

“You cannot benefit from fraud and then expect me to portray you as an angel,” Wali stated.

“After the elections, individuals camped in front of INEC to obstruct Tonye Cole from acquiring verified election documents. How can we forget all of that? You benefit from that process and then come to tell me you are an angel. No, you are not.”

Wali urged the people of Rivers to critically analyze both pre-election and post-election activities and to consider whether they genuinely stood up for the long-term interests of the state.

He further noted that the people of Rivers have, over time, become accustomed to political oppression and mismanagement, describing the current situation as “nothing new.”

He concluded that the disagreement between the governor and the FCT minister will resolve itself, asserting that it remains a political issue and not a crisis that should divide the people of Rivers.