Cold War: Dickson Kicks, Raps Wike Over Utterances, Actions
BY UBON EKANEM – The obvious no love lost relationship between Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson and his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, heightened at the weekend with accusations of ‘needless antagonism’ coming from Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital
A furious Governor Dickson has pointedly accused the Rivers State Chief Executive of inciting ethnic disharmony in Ijawland for the selfish purpose of executing a ‘supremacist agenda’ in the Niger Delta region.
He further said that regrettably Wike’s expansionist agenda has led him to embark on needless wars against all the neighbouring states of Imo, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa to the detriment of South South unity and progress.
According to the Bayelsa governor, Wike is allegedly using the disputed oil wells to create disunity as well as cover up “deliberate underdevelopment” of Ijaw communities in Rivers State by pretending to be their champion.
He described Wike’s comments on the oil wells as “reckless, childish and uncivilised”, claiming that there is clearly an evil intent to deliberately attack the age-long bonds among brothers.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Fidelis Soriwei, Governor Dickson said Wike’s vituperations towards him and the Bayelsa people would no longer be condoned after years of restraint.
The statement quoted Governor Dickson as saying during a media chat in Yenagoa that he has always restrained himself from responding to Wike’s ‘unprovoked and unguarded’ remarks and excesses out of respect for the Rivers people over the years.
The governor however warned his Rivers counterpart to desist from seeing Bayelsa as an annex of his political empire, even as he dismissed Wike’s allegations that Bayelsa was surreptitiously laying ownership claim to Soku in Rivers Stste.
Speaking against the backdrop of Governor Wike’s threat to sanction the Amanyanabo of Kalabari, an Ijaw monarch, for hosting him without official permission, Dickson said while Soku is a Kalabari (Ijaw) community in Rivers, the disputed oil wells are located in Oluasiri, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
He said Ijaw leaders, like him, have made sustained efforts to forge solid bonds of unity among the people which people like Wike and others cannot destroy, adding that he led a pan-Ijaw agenda, which has culminated in the building of solid bonds of unity across the six states to which the Ijaws are indigenous, which Wike considers a threat.
The Bayelsa governor said this existing bond of unity, represented by the indomitable Ijaw spirit, cannot be threatened or broken by Wike no matter how hard they try.
Governor Dickson also condemned what he called Wike’s ‘needless antagonism’ to him and Bayelsans over the years and his recent unprovoked outburst concerning an area with a very volatile history.
Insisting that it remained an issue of grave concern to Bayelsans and indeed the Rivers people that their governor cannot appreciate the grave implications of his intemperate outbursts and actions, Governor Dickson urged the Ijaws in Rivers to reject Governor Wike’s antics that seek to destroy the long-standing relationship between them and their kith and kin in Bayelsa.
He also gave assurances that there was no intention to annex any part of Kalabari land or any other place as being alleged in some quarters.
On the Supreme Court decision that directed the National Boundary Commission (NBC) to carry out a fresh delineation and demarcation in the affected area. Governor Dickson said Wike needs to be reminded how the Rivers delegation, led by its Deputy Governor at the time, Tele Ikuru, pulled out of the exercise in 2013.
“The good people of Rivers State should not be preys in the hands of Wike who want to promote disunity and hatred in Ijawland because he is promoting an ethnic supremacist political agenda in the state”, he said
Reacting to Wike’s allegation that he visited the Amanyanabo of Kalabari without following protocol, Dickson said visiting the Ijaw traditional ruler in April was to condole with the people on the killing of Ijaw sons and daughters of the area during the gubernatorial election.
He claimed sustained efforts to contact Wike proved abortive, even as he directed his Chief of Staff and the aide de camp (ADC) to speak to their counterparts in Rivers who promised to inform his boss of the impending trip, which they did.
Governor Dickson, who maintained that he does not need Wike’s permission to visit the Ijaws in Rivers State, said the Rivers Governor did not deserve to be extended any courtesies given his actions that are clearly antagonistic against the government and people if Bayelsa State.
He also stated that any governor of Bayelsa State and leader from the Ijaw nation did not require permission to visit Ijaw traditional rulers, leaders and elders in Port Harcourt or any part of Rivers State for any purpose whatsoever.
The governor also hinted that plans are underway for him and other Ijaw leaders to participate in any activity meant to celebrate the revered Ijaw monarch, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari, who would turn 90 next month.
Acknowledging that it is normal to extend courtesies to fellow governor, the Bayelsa Chief Executive insisted that such conditions cannot apply in an abnormal environment encouraged by Wike over years, adding; “The governor of our neighbouring state, Governor Wike of Rivers State, who by the way is used to making careless and very childish remarks from time to time, went into his habit some few days ago.”
The statement further read in part: “Let me put it on record: this is the first time I will formally respond to Wike’s childishness in this formal way. I have always ignored with pain and regret all the previous vituperations and his attempt to belittle and intimidate this state and our leadership.
“His unfriendliness towards this state is not hidden. It’s not just me; it’s about our state and our people. He has done that a couple of times but I decided to stomach it for several reasons.
“Also, my involvement in the affairs of the Niger Delta and my commitment to the wellbeing of our people made me to always shy away from having open confrontations with a brother governor, particularly of a state that is so closely tied to our state.
“As we speak, because of the level of social and business interactions, most of our people and leaders live in Port Harcourt, and so, I have been very reluctant since he started his hostility towards us.
“I have been very reluctant even to respond publicly, out of respect for our historical ties, respect for the good people of Rivers State itself, whom he is misrepresenting. Wike can attack Bayelsa because he doesn’t have his indigenous Ikwerre people in Bayelsa state.
“But the Governor of Bayelsa has his indigenous Ijaw people who are major stakeholders in Rivers State. So, as a result of these, for the past four to five years, since he started his childish and unguarded behaviour, I’ve been very reserved in responding.
“But I have had to formally do so and Governor Wike knows that I’m not someone who shies away.
“I have had to hold myself because the Governor of Bayelsa represents much more than the governorship of a state. Out of respect for our people in Rivers, I’ve always held back, but this time, no, he has gone too far.
“And so, I want to use this opportunity to condemn the way and manner he threatens and shows disrespect to our leaders in that state and I want to particularly respond to what he said concerning my visit to our revered leader and father, the Amanyanabo of Kalabari, who will be 90 years next year.
“And I want to make it clear as governor of this state, either me or any other person who will be governor; we don’t need Governor Wike’s permission to visit our traditional rulers and elders in Port Harcourt or any part of Rivers State.”
Offering reasons for showing restrain thus far in the circumstance, Governor Dickson said; “If we are quiet, it’s because it is strategic, especially with me as the oldest governor even in the South South, but this nonsense from Wike must stop”
“Since he doesn’t understand courtesy and is not prepared to show courtesy, then that courtesy will not be extended to him. Bayelsa is not an annexe of Rivers State that he can intimidate at will”, the Countryman governor warned
