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… Says ‘You Can Not Win Election in Ahoada’
By Mandy Tina
Dr. Reason Onya, former Commissioner of Urban Development and Physical Planning Rivers State, has condemned the allegations made by Hope Ikiriko, the immediate past chairman of the Ahoada West Local Government Area, against the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Onya, a “major stakeholder” in Ahoada West, and senior lecturer in the Political Science Department, Rivers State University,, refuted claims that Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed the formation of a vigilante group in Ahoada West and Ahoada East LGAs, noting that the initiative came from the local government chairmen, in collaboration with traditional institutions, as a result of the insecurity in the area.
He criticized Ikiriko for allegedly calling the governor a criminal and an anarchist, describing these statements as defamatory.
“First, it’s quite fallacious for him to say the governor directed that a vigilante group should be formed in Ahoada West and Ahoada East. It is the idea of the two local government chairmen in collaboration with the traditional institution because of insecurity in the two LGAs.
“If the governor will direct, he would have done same in other local government areas in the state. The vigilante group was formed to curb insecurity in Ahoada West and East LGAs, borrowing the concept from ONELGA.
“I am not happy, after telling lies on the governor, he went further to say the Governor is a criminal. How dare him call the governor of Rivers State a criminal. This is extremely unbecoming. Like I said before in no distant time I will consult legal advice on this matter”.
“I do not really know the perspective he is coming in with anarchist, calling the governor anarchist. For a dove governor, a peace loving person? Is it because he is too calm, is it because he does not want any brouhaha in the state, that they will be calling him names.
“This has to stop, if it does not, I will follow it to the letter after due consultation with my lawyers in accordance with the law of the land”.
The former Commissioner for Urban Development, urged Ikiriko to exhibit more decorum in public discourse, adding that Ikiriko’s political influence is zero as he cannot win election in his ward, if he continues with such behaviour.
“One thing I want Hope Kiriko to know, the movement he is referring to in Ahoada West where we just finished our Ward to Ward tour is organic and he does not have anybody that will work with him. The few that are with him are his cronies, it will be immoral, unethical for them not to be with him, if not they could have not been with him
“His political culture is minus zero. He does not know how to manage human resources and that is why, I in person will never work with him if he continues such behaviour.
“He does not know how to manage human resources and that is why he is alone, he can not say he has more people than us, definitely not. Even if I do not go to Ahoada West I will win him over and over in any election as I speak, if he does not change I will forever win him
“The concept of them being the one’s that brought Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and God will take him out. If they brought the governor constitutionally, the governor would have to leave constitutionally. They can not say God will take him out, is the governor going to drop dead? Is that what they are leading to?
“One should learn to control his emotions, nothing should make one use fowl languages that he maybe called upon tomorrow when the need arises. As a brother I want you to apply decorum in absolutism when you talk in the public spaces.
“You know, I like you a lot, but I do not like your political culture and stop insulting the governor of Rivers State, I won’t take that from you, I will go personal on any further insult on the governor of Rivers State, I will make sure the full weight of the law of the land takes it place”.
Onya concluded by warning that any further insults directed at the Governor would be met with legal action, stressing the importance of respect in political discussions.
