The political crisis rocking Rivers State has taken a different dimension following the paramount ruler of Emohua kingdom, His Majesty Sir Ohna Sergeant Awuse’s declaration of his palace out of bounds to anyone not working for the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in Emohua.
Awuse, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and one time governorship candidate removed as the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and replaced by Eze Chike Worlu Wodo, the King of Apara Kingdom in Obio/Akpo Local Government Area.
The Emuoha monarch was among the Rivers Elders, who were in Abuja to declare their support for Wike, during the early days of the political crisis rocking the state.
Some prominent political actors in Emuoha claimed that Awuse in a video recorded in his palace in Emuoha, instructed the people of Emuoha to support Wike, and not Fubara, warning that whoever that goes against the directive is not welcome to his palace.
Awuse, who had taken some time off outside the country following his removal as the head of traditional rulers in the state, has consistently shown his support for Wike, who installed him as a traditional ruler.
Awuse is being labeled by Fubara’s supporters in Emuoha as a partisan monarch, who threatens his people because of Wike, warning that his action could create crisis in Emuoha.
Supporters of Fubara in Emuoha, led by Prince Charles E.O Beke, JP, said it was shocking that Awuse could make such comment, stressing that he cannot dictate to the people who they should support.
Beke, in a statement said: “With all due respect to His Majesty, this declaration is unfortunate and a clear recipe for disaster.
“All over the world, the traditional institution acts as the centripetal force which unite and bring the people together despite their perceived differences.
The institution is both non political and nonpartisan.
“The palace of the Paramount ruler is the home of all his subjects. Thus, the declaration of non supporters of Wike in Emohua as persona non grata to his palace is a bad development.”
He added:”We have utmost respect for traditional stool of Emohua kingdom and we will not denigrate that institution by smearing it with politics.
“His Majesty, Sir Ohna Sergeant Awuse DSSRS, is at liberty to descend into the political arena and take sides if he so wishes. But he cannot dictate to the people where their own loyalty should lie.
“…members of the SIMplified Movement in Emohua will neither be intimidated nor blackmailed into abandoning the righteous cause of supporting the Governor that all of us took pains to vote for just a year ago.
“That we are able to distinguish between our political loyalty and our obligations to the traditional stool of Emohua. We will never merge both nor allow anyone to use that stool to dictate our political conduct.”
