Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
There were strong disagreements between elders and youthful elements who were part of a delegation that visited Governor Peter Odili to congratulate him on his final victory over Chief Sergeant Awuse of the ANPP.
Ikwerres - elders, youths quarrel over N2M?
There were strong disagreements between elders and youthful elements who were part of a delegation that visited Governor Peter Odili to congratulate him on his final victory over Chief Sergeant Awuse of the ANPP.
At the centre of the disagreement is the sum of two million naira allegedly disbursed by the governor as transport money.
As soon as the delegation left Government House, the Telegraph learnt that at the prompting of the elders, every one headed for the residence of Chief Sampson Agbaru, a one-time Secretary to the State Government under the military.
At the residence of the chief, the youths were shocked when the elders present who included Professor Otonti Nduka, current President-General of Ogbako Ikwerre, Chief Andrew Uchendu, member representing Emohua Federal Constituency and retired Captain Elechi Amadi decided that only N200, 000 should be disbursed to those who were part of the delegation.
They said that the remaining sum of N1.8 million would be put in the coffers of Ogbako Ikwerre.
The decision immediately sparked off controversy, with the youths wondering how the transport money given to them by the governor could now be Ogbako Ikwerre money.
They said their understanding was that the money would be shared to all those who were led to Government House to celebrate the final defeat of Chief Awuse, an Ikwerre son.
There were equally youths who alleged the move may have been a ploy by the elders present to corner a huge chunk of what the governor allegedly gave.
In visiting the governor, the Ikwerres became the first ethnic nationality to officially rejoice with the state chief executive over his resounding victory in the courtroom.
The Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt had thrown out Awuse's appeal, saying it completely lack merit. Among some Ikwerres, the move was humiliating.
"How could our own people be the first to jubilate over the defeat of our brother?", An angry civil servant of Ikwerre extraction asked.
"I was a small boy when Wonodi as an independent candidate defeated Enegruonu, an Ibo candidate. It was the Ikwerre who spearheaded opposition against the Ibos. Now, I don't know what has come over us", he lamented, "Look what mess this generation of Ikwerre leaders are putting us into!"
Another said, "With what has happened, Awuse should be content with playing the role of a king maker. It is now obvious that the forces that are opposed to his ambition to lead Rivers people, even within his own ethnic nationality are many".
"I advice him not to venture to put his name forward for any future election", he added.