Time To Stop The Brickbats In Rivers

It is now a common
knowledge that some self-styled politicians are bent on turning our dear Rivers State into a sort of theatre of political war of sorts. The major weapon they are using are brickbats, outright lies, insubstantial  propaganda and all sorts of negativity targeted at making the state look unsafe and insecure.
This development is too bad and very unfortunate and should be done with by those perpetrating them because it is not telling well of the state and its politicians. Those whose stock in trade is to pull down the people at the helm of governance in the state, under whatever guise, are retarding the growth and development of the state politically, economically, and otherwise. And when the state is not attaining the height it ordinarily would have attained, all citizens and stakeholders of the state, irrespective of political cleavages, will be affected adversely.
The negative and ugly political experiences in the state have created fears in the minds of not only citizens and residents but also prospective investors who now seem wary of investing in the state. It is obvious that the numerous cult groups in some communities and their activities, which are mostly shrouded in criminality, have linkages to the unpalatable political developments in the State.
But thank God for the Governor Chief (Barr) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who has always remained averse to the negative threats and unfounded lies peddled about by strongly and boldly taking the fight against insecurity to the dens of criminally-minded persons who exhibit all manners of vices, using the undercover of the political quarrels in the state.
Since assumption of office on May 29th, 2016, the various positive steps the governor has taken to make the state very safe and ensure quick dispensation of justice are eloquent testimonies of his resolve not to be cowed by the efforts of those who want to put the state in continuous bad light.
Immediately the governor was sworn into office, he ordered the re-opening of the courts which were hitherto shut since August, 2013. He has been very supportive to the security agencies through the provision of logistics, equipment and other supports to enhance their statutory functions.
Governor Wike has not only always publicly condemned all manners and sorts of criminality, he has also given a marching order to all criminals and cultists in the state to stop and abandon their illicit trade and engage in meaningful businesses. To demonstrate his interest in establishing a secured environment, he has extended amnesty to repentant cultists and criminals. It is only pertinent for those affected to make up their minds, surrender their arms, and make the best use of this great opportunity that our  governor has extended to them, not minding their political leaning.
Also to show how the governor abhors criminality, he has gone ahead to pull down houses, structures, and hide-outs of kidnappers and other such suspected criminals, confiscating the land on which such structures were built for the use of government for viable and legal activities.
For a governor like Wike, who has been working round the clock for the development and betterment of the state and its people, what he needs most is support and positive prayers and not distractions. Enough of these brickbats, name callings, kidnappings, cultism, and other forms of election-related violence in the state.
It is true that there are still elections to be conducted in the state; what the politicians have to do is to go for aggressive campaigns of how well they can take development to their various constituencies and not to haul abusive words at each other.
For about one year into this administration, some constituencies have not had any representation both at the state and National Assemblies. This is just too bad!
Politicians should play by the rule so that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can organise the inconclusive re-run elections successfully for all constituencies to have their representatives.
All political gladiators in the state, their supporters and followers, should accept the wise counsel of Major-General L.T.U. Aguiyi Ironsi, who in a nationwide broadcast on January 28th, 1966, said, “We cannot continue to witness sterile political strife and mutual recriminations.”
This is indeed the time for all true and sincere Rivers people, no matter their political interest and cleavage, to follow the teachings of one of our political sage of blessed memory, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, that politics should be played without bitterness so that we can stop the brickbats in Rivers State.
Oruigoni is Information Officer, Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Port Harcourt.

Idanye Oruigoni