One of the respected stakeholders in Rivers State and deputy national Commandant of Man O’War Nigeria, Natty Rissy said that the news making the rounds that the Amaechi-led All Progressives Congress (APC) has indicated its interest to work with the Wike administration in the interest of the peace and development of the State is a welcome development and indeed God’s intervention.
He stated this Monday April 29, 2019 in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Commander Rissy made it known that this has been the hope and expectation of all well-meaning Rivers man and woman especially those from the Ikwerre Ethnic Nationality to reconcile the two prominent personalities for the security and economic growth of the state.
According to him “I know that some persons were benefiting from the crisis and acrimony that existed between former Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and his erstwhile political ally and currently governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to the detriment of the entire state. But we are grateful to God for the divine intervention which made real reconciliation possible. They and their supporters should key in and unite against common enemies”.
Commander Rissy explained that whether anybody believes it or not, the state would have attained greater heights if the two prominent Ikwerre sons were still working together with their enormous contacts and experience, adding that the neighbouring Akwa Ibom state has left Rivers State behind in terms of development as a result of unity of purpose of their stakeholders.
He equally hailed the governor’s pronouncement of an all-inclusive government, adding that the development is one of the leadership qualities of Governor Wike which should be emulated even by the APC-led Federal Government for the speedy development of the country as it would make it possible for the presidency to look over board for competent persons to serve in the Buhari cabinet.
On the just concluded 2019 general elections, Commander Rissy said it was a national embarrassment especially where the military were actively involved in the manipulation of the election to favour a particular party.
He however advised Mr. Amaechi to apologise to the people of River State and indeed those family who lost their loved ones through his alleged roles in the election if he hoped to get real forgiveness from God.
The Elelenwo-born philanthropist used the opportunity to congratulate Governor Wike for wading through all the hurdles and obstacles placed on his path for a second tenure and won the guber election after almost one month of apprehension and tension, describing the PDP’s electoral victory as a victory for Rivers people who he said stood their ground despite the obvious intimidation from soldiers.
He said: “Governor Wike is indeed the Lion of Niger Delta who came, saw and conquered”. He appealed to the governor to give priority attention to human capital development and the improvement of workers and pensioners welfare as well as youth empowerment.
On the increased criminal activities in the state of recent, he blamed the situation on sabotage.
According to him, “there is no governor in the whole of the country who has contributed to the combat of crime than the Rivers State governor, both in terms of logistics and financial assistance to the security agencies including the purchase of armoured vehicles and establishment of Neighbourhood Watch Agency for community policing”.
Commander Risy made it clear that if the Neighbourhood Watch Agency was allowed to be fully operational in the State, they would have been able to curtail the rising tide of criminality and kidnapping in the state and hoped that the federal government would see reason to permit the agency to commence operation in the interest of the state.
