In a move which signposts a direct confrontation with the powers-that-be in Rivers State, former Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty, Sergeant Ohna Awuse, has declared his Palace ,a no-go-area for all perceived and known supporters of Governor Simnalayi Fubara.
Awuse, a former political gladiator and known sympathizer of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, in a video recording, also said that his Palace will only be accessible to those behind the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister Nyesom Wike.
Awuse, since exiting active partisan politics ,has been the Paramount Traditional Ruler of Emohua Kingdom in Rivers State.
A known and unrepentant ally and loyalist of Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of the state, Awuse was a few months ago, removed as the Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers by Governor Siminalayi Fubara for alleged insubordination and disrespect to constituted authorities .
The Governor had cited the printing of the 2024 Calendar of the Traditional Rulers Council in which Awuse deliberately omitted his pictures and that of his deputy as the height of disrespect.
Governor Fubara and Wike, until they parted ways a fews months after he, Fubara, became Governor with Wike’s help, were known formidable political soulmates.
Their political differences, however, have since polarized the political landscape of the Oil rich State, including the state legislative body.
About 27 State Lawmakers led by factional Speaker Martins Amaewfule, have also resigned their memberships of the PDP, the platform that enthroned them are backing Wike.
Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo leads other members of the House of Assembly loyal to Governor Fubara .
The video was said to have been recorded at the Palace of the Traditional Ruler during his address to followers of Wike who paid him a visit.
But supporters of Governor Fubara have described the declaration by Awuse as unfortunate, a bad development and a recipe for disaster for the, otherwise, revered traditional institution.
A statement issued by Prince Charles Beke, leader of SIMplified Movement in Emuoha, condemned the Monarch’s action, and labelled him a ” partisan Monarch”.
The group regretted that a Traditional Ruler that is supposed to serve as a rallying point for all his subjects, irrespective of political affiliations, has condescended to a new low whereby he is now threatening his own people due to his loyalty to Wike .
However, the group has vowed never to be intimidated by anybody no matter how highly placed, nor succumb to empty threats.
“We are able to distinguish between our political loyalty, and our obligations to the Traditional Stool of Emohua. We will never merge both nor allow any one to use the stool to dictate our political conduct.
“Members of the SIMplified Movement in Emohua will neither be intimidated, nor blackmailed into abandoning the righteous cause of supporting the Governor that all of us took the pain to vote for just a year ago.
“His Majesty, Sir Ohna Sergeant Awuse, is at liberty to descend into the political arena and take sides if he so wishes. But he cannot dictate to the people where their loyalty should be.
“For us, we have utmost respect for the Traditional Stool of Emohua Kingdom and we will not denigrate the institution by smearing it with politics” the group stated.
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