- Stakeholders in Rivers state have sent a warning to the UK based Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House)
- The stakeholders advised the institute to call off their proposed programme to host the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, next week
- The group warned the institute not to associate with the governor because of his past records
A group of political stakeholders in Rivers state have called on the UK based Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), to cancel its scheduled hosting of Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike.
In a press statement sent to NAIJ.com, the group faulted the choice of Wike by Chatham House to give a lecture bothering on the issues of governance.
NAIJ.com checks revealed that Wike is expected to be the guest speaker at the international institute on Monday, November 6, on the topic: Defining Development for Rivers State and Steps to Sustainable Implementation.
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The statement jointly signed by two groups known as Public Eye on Democracy (PED) and Lawyers’ Network for the Prevention of Electoral Violence(LANPEV) expressed their surprise that such a highly respected think-tank can offer their platform for such a man that they described as a discredited politician.
The groups pronounced Wike as a desperate politician who has squandered the goodwill of his people and is now travelling around the world to procure any form of legitimacy.
They further observed there are a lot information available in the public domain about how the Rivers state governor bribed some members of the Nigerian police and electoral officials with about N360 million to manipulate the results of the gubernatorial elections in 2015.
They also stated that after Wike was announced the winner, several international organisations that observed the elections raised concerns about the credibility of the election.
The groups also said during and after the elections in the state, many supporters of the opposition in the state were summarily shot in places like Gokana, Khana, Omoku and other Kalabari areas of the state.
They went on to say an estimated 138 persons have so far lost their lives before, during and after the election that brought Governor Wike to power.
“Violent killings, kidnapping and confrontations with the police have continued in the state leading to numerous loss of lives.
“Faced with loss of public confidence due to his negative track record, Mr Wike has been travelling to spread what many people in the state see as ‘lies and propaganda’ to sell himself to the international community,” part of the statement read.
The groups enjoined international organisations who want to host Nigerian politicians to be cautious and to first conduct a due diligence on them.
They warned Chatham House to call off the proposed event because it will lead to the loss of public confidence and negative perception especially by many Nigerians who admire Chatham House.
“Hosting a character like Wike who is widely known for his belief that everything is for sale will create an adverse and unhelpful impression among that Nigerian public that some members of your organisations might have been compromised,” they said.
Meanwhile, young Rivers state indigenes studying in far-way United Kingdom on scholarship say they have been abandoned by the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA).
RSSDA is an agency of Rivers state government and had initiated a scholarship programme for students to study in the UK on the bills of the government.
They expressed optimism that the leadership of the UK Parliament will put pressure on Governor Wike to clear their debts, “so that we can go on to be productive to Rivers state and society at large.”
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INEC officials accused of corruption in Rivers state appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja on - NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng