The Rivers State Government has blamed the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the crisis in Rumuepirikom, Obi/Akpor Local Government Area, where a traditional ruler allegedly shot his son and other persons on Wednesday.
Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Tony Okocha, who spoke on the incident, accused Wike of being behind the action of the ‘thugs’ who allegedly blocked the roads in his (Wike) Rumuepirikom community.
A traditional ruler in Rivers State, Eze Anthony Owabie on Wednesday allegedly shot his son during a scuffle between supporters of the  All Progressives Congress (APC) and PDP at Rumuepirikom.
Eyewitnesses told The Tide that Eze Owabie, who is the Paramount Ruler of Rumuepirikom community, the home town of Wike, allegedly opened fire when some protesters rushed into his palace in a bid to attack him.
Crisis in the community started last year, when the traditional ruler was allegedly dethroned by a few persons believed to be acting on the orders of the minister of state for education, for receiving the former Obio/Akpor Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chikodi Dike but however was protected by majority of the people.
Sources hinted The Tide that the clash followed the planned visit of the state Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to the area on Wednesday morning in continuation of his meet-the-peoples’ tour across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Some of the youth had barricaded the popular Wimpey Junction on Ikwerre Road, insisting that Amaechi had no business in the area, claiming that the area is controlled by the PDP.
During the brawl, goods and property worth millions of Naira were destroyed, while business and commercial activities were grounded.
Owners of business places hurriedly closed their shops and scampered to safety.
The state Police Commissioner, Tunde Johnson Ogunsakin, who confirmed the incident, said the royal father has been arrested, along with four others, adding that a local gun was recovered from one of them.
Ogunsakin said, “The state police command had issued a stern warning to political jobbers who engage in campaigns and political meetings aimed at wrecking havoc on the populace to retrace their steps, and allow peace to reign.
“Chief Anthony Owabie of Rumuepirikom was arrested after he shot six people, including his son. He was arrested along with four others whose identities are yet to be confirmed,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Charles Paul reportedly slumped and died on Tuesday.
It was gathered that Paul had attended a meeting at an undisclosed place and went home, only to slump few hours after with blood coming out of his mouth.
He was among the 21 caretaker committee chairmen appointed and inaugurated over a month ago by the state Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.
Sources said he was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he reportedly gave up the ghost.
The death of the Mayor of Port Harcourt made Governor Amaechi to cancel his proposed visit to Rumuepirikom, even as he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late chairman in Port Harcourt.

L-R: Chairman, Senior Secondary School Board and former commissioner of Sport, Rivers State, Allwell Onyesoh, the author of the book, ‘The Professional and Ethical Teacher, the Quest for Efficiency,’ Dr Jacob Sunday Akikibofori, Hon Gray B Tamunolyala, during the launching of the book at Royal Banquet Hall, Hotel Presidential, Port Hacourt, yesterday