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Amaechi’s Insecurity Outbursts Against Ateke Draw Angst Across Rivers …Okrikans Seek Retraction, Apology
Following the false insecurity alarm and inflammatory comments made against the Amayanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Tom, by the Minister of Transportation and former governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, the people of Okrika Local Government of the state have described as ridiculous and callous, Amaechi’s outbursts, saying that he lacks respect for the ancient Okochiri Kingdom, the entire Okrikans as well as the Ijaw nation.
The Okrikans also averred that they were not taken unawares by the rude comments and insults unleashed on their revered king by the minister, and attributed such behaviour to his alleged lack of proper upbringing, which they said, cannot be compensated for, through political opportunism.
It would be recalled that Amaechi had, during the funeral service in honour of the late elder statesman and former Supreme Court judge, Justice Adolphus Karibi-White at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, Abonnema, last Saturday, made unguarded comments, saying “everyone is scared, we are going back to when Ateke Tom held sway. We are running away from our people”.
The statement, which has been wildly condemned and criticised, did not go down well with the people of the area, and indeed, groups and organizations within the state and the Ijawland.
Speaking to journalists in Okrika, the Chairman of Okochiri Kingdom Council of Chiefs, Chief Jackson Adoki Ibiteinbo, condemned the statement in its entirety, and urged Amaechi to tender unreserved apology to their revered monarch and the entire people of Okrikan over his uncomplimentary remarks against the Sekuro of the Niger Delta and the Amanyanabo of ancient Okochiri Kingdom.
On the contrary, Ibiteinbo said that Ateke was doing his best to maintain peace not only in Okochiri Kingdom and the state but in the entire Niger Delta.
“The people of Okochiri Kingdom, like all Wakirike people, are peace loving people but not cowards, and will want to call on the former governor, Rotimi Amaechi, to take his uncouth mouth to the arena of jackals where he is a chief.
“As a kingdom, we are appalled at the callous manner Amaechi has exhibited his lack of respect for the ancient Kingdom of Okochiri, but not surprised because the lack of proper upbringing cannot be compensated for by political opportunism.
“We condemn this in its totality, and call for caution as we will no longer entertain such despicable and uncultured behaviour, which he has exhibited at every given opportunity”, he stated.
According to him, while Amaechi was the governor of the state, he wasn’t short of such conduct as he insulted, harassed and disrespected traditional rulers at will, including the traditional ruler of Abonema in whose domain he made such disparaging remarks on the person of King Ateke Tom.
He said that Amaechi should know that his incessant hatred for Ateke was public knowledge, and has become a source of concern for the people.
“May we remind him that as the minister of transportation, all he has given to Rivers people as projects are his hatred, division, bloodbath and oppression, while the present governor employs every means to repair the damage.
“Amaechi is a man who never sees anything good in other people’s effort; he doesn’t understand what true politics without hatred in the spirit of sportsmanship is all about.
“Let him know that King Ateke Tom doesn’t need him (Amaechi) for anything on earth. Therefore, whatever opinion or grudge he holds against King Ateke Tom is not new to us, as such, he should perpetually bury his head in shame”, he stated.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Okrika Divisional Council of Chiefs, Chief Dere Biemgbo Ofokomie, said the comments by the former governor were not only designed to defame King Ateke Tom but to also undermine the entire Okrikans and others of Niger Delta extraction, adding that the Okochiri monarch has earned international recognition for his peace efforts in the country.
“King Ateke Tom is a man of peace, and everybody can testify that he has been fighting criminalities in the Niger Delta”, adding that because of Ateke, Okrika Local Government Area was the most peaceful LGA in the state.
In their various speeches, the President of Wakirike Youth Federation, Comrade Charles Melford; and Coordinator, Sekuro of Niger Delta, Chief Toku Adokiye, while condemning the former state governor’s comments, urged President Muhammandu Buhari to carry out a fatherly evaluation on the minister of transportation’s mental health status with a view to ascertaining his problems and provide appropriate remedies.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.