A former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has come under fire for his controversial visit to Abalama, with prominent elder statesman Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe questioning the motive behind forcing himself into a community that allegedly did not want him there.
Speaking in a video shared by Symfoni TV, Sara-Igbe expressed strong disapproval of Wike's approach, stating that a leader who is genuinely respected would not need to impose himself on people who clearly did not welcome his presence.
"A few days ago, Wike went to Abalama, and the visit turned into a chaotic scene. Teargas was fired to disperse women, and the situation became problematic," Sara-Igbe said. "If you are going to a particular house and the owner of the house says, 'Don't come to my house,' but you force yourself in, what does that say about you?"
Sara-Igbe questioned why Wike needed a heavily armed security convoy, including soldiers, police officers, gunboats, and armored vehicles, just to visit a community. He argued that such a show of force was unnecessary and only served to confirm that Wike's presence was not welcome.
"If he is truly loved and accepted, why did he have to come in with an army of security personnel?" Sara-Igbe asked. "A leader should be received with open arms, not with resistance and fear."
The elder statesman further criticized the use of security forces to intimidate local residents, especially women, who were reportedly dispersed with teargas. He described the incident as an abuse of power and a reflection of the political tension in the state.
Click on the link below and watch the video starting from 30:20 minutes mark
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