The All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State chapter’s acting chairman, Tony Okocha, reportedly chastised the tardy attempts to resolve the dispute by some Niger Delta elders and stakeholders, according to the Nigerian Tribune. He maintained that the time for successful intervention had long since gone and characterized these attempts at reconciliation as fruitless.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Okocha did not hold back in expressing his views, stating, “I say it’s foolishness for anyone to cry when the head is off. There is also this aphorism that you don’t cry over spilt milk.”
His remarks underscore a sense of frustration with the timing of the elders’ involvement, suggesting that the situation has deteriorated beyond repair.
He pointed out that the crisis is now approaching a critical juncture, with the Supreme Court being the only remaining avenue for resolution.
“The matter is narrowing down, if you ask me, because the only other hurdle to escape is the Supreme Court,” he noted, indicating the serious legal challenges faced by the current administration.
Okocha further questioned the motivations and effectiveness of the elders, asking, “What are the elders coming to do at this late hour if they actually would want to come? What are they coming to do?”
He accused these figures of previously encouraging Governor Fubara’s overconfidence, saying they had fed him with notions of omnipotence.
“They were the ones who told him, ‘Look, your powers are elastic, what can you not do?’ The governor agreed to that, and today, the Ikwerre man tells you that not everybody who comes to plan your building will be part of the building.”
This critique reveals Okocha’s belief that the elders, who once supported the governor’s decisions, have now distanced themselves, leaving him to face the fallout alone.
He emphasized that many of these figures have “disappeared into thin air,” implying they have abandoned their responsibilities while benefiting from the situation.
“At the time they came to counsel the governor against the decision that he signed to, they had lined their pockets. And the governor is on the hot seat,” Okocha said, reflecting a deep discontent with the lack of accountability among local leaders.
Despite his critical stance, Okocha conveyed a desire for peace in Rivers State, asserting that a resolution must adhere to legal frameworks.
“But we want peace. It is a simple thing. See, the only way to bring peace is to follow the law,” he concluded, reinforcing the importance of constitutional adherence in resolving the current crisis.
The situation in Rivers State remains tense, with political maneuvering and legal challenges exacerbating divisions among key stakeholders.
Okocha’s remarks highlight not only his discontent with current leadership but also a broader call for responsibility and ethical governance.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
