By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said the only recipe for peace in Rivers state is the meeting of critical stakeholders, including members of National Assembly, in the oil-rich state.
Wike stated that participants of the proposed meeting must attend it with sincerity of purpose, stressing that no amount of blackmail will bring peace to the crisis-ridden state.
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.
“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.
“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, other leaders must be involved. In that way, we will now know that they are sincere in talking about peace.”
