Group accuses Wike of engaging 14,000 political appointees to unleash violence

• Gov approves N1b to support flood victims

The socio-political group, One-on-One-Network, has alleged that the 14,000 political advisers appointed by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, were aimed at unleashing political violence in the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Wike, aside from the 14, 000 advisers for various political units in the state, had, also on Tuesday, appointed 319 Ward Liaison Officers and 40 council officers.

The group, in a statement in Port Harcourt, yesterday, by the Director-General, LoveGod Nweze, alleged: “Governor Wike by the appointment is weaponising political violence ahead of the 2023 general elections by recruiting renowned thugs and cultists as advisers.”
 
Nweze said the pronouncement of Executive Order 21 by the governor and the recent appointments have already set up a chain of condemnable activities to emasculate and strangulate perceived political opponents.

The group called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), international communities, Civil Society Organisations and others to caution the governor.

Nweze further appealed to security and law enforcement agencies to shun Wike’s entreaties to compromise by weaponising them as tools and agents for a political witch-hunt.

But the governor had, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, on Tuesday, said the advisers will play pivotal roles in his administration.

MEANWHILE, Wike, yesterday, approved N1 billion for emergency relief measures to support flood victims in Ahoada West and Ogba/Egbema/ Ndoni councils of the state.

The governor, who empathised with the flood victims, has also set up a task force to coordinate the distribution of relief materials to affected communities in the State.

Wike said the amount approved by the state government would enable vulnerable families, particularly in Ahoada West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni councils, which are the most impacted areas.

The governor said the Permanent Secretary, the Special Services Bureau (SSB) in the Office of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. George Nwaeke, would serve as the chairman of the task force; while, Mrs. Inime Aguma, is the secretary.

Other members of the task force are the Chairman of Ahoada West Council, Hope Ikiriko; the Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Council, Vincent Job; Chukwuemeka Onowu and the Director of Administration in the Ministry of Special Duties.