By: Solomon Olali-Igabo
One of the biggest challenge or problem facing Nigeria today as a nation is tribal sentiment and hatred against perceived ethnic groups or individuals. Nigeria is a country with diverse ethnic groups and multi-cultural languages. Since independence in 1960 to date, Nigeria had continued to live as one indivisible nation with diverse ethnic groups. However, some of the political leaders and their followers are the causes of these evils manifesting in the polity and it does not portray the nation in good light.
For instance, the recent outburst and ranting of Chief Nyesome Wike, former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of Federal Capital Territory-Abuja is a pointer that he needs to bridle his mouth rather than being cantankerous and garrulous all the times with the slightest provocation. It is sad to note that the Minister of the FCT will cast aspersion and disparaging comments on Pan Delta Forum (PANDEF) and its leadership that PANDEF is “the worst organization ever”.
How can the minister who supposed to be a role model, will have the gut or effrontery to castigate revered leaders in persons of Late Chief Edwin K. Clark, a national icon and former leader of PANDEF and also the crude and disrespectful attack on HRM, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, former military governor of Old Rivers State and current chairman of PANDEF Board of Trustees? This is to say the least is most regrettable and unacceptable.
Mr. Wike’s attitude and trait shows that he is becoming something else. How dare he insulted eminent Ijaw leaders enough to be his grandfathers? Besides, addressed the Ijaws as minorities of the Minority in Rivers, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Ondo except Bayelsa State. This is a joke taken too far and must be resisted.
Several groups and individuals have condemned Mr. Wike’s poor behaviour and urged him to render apology to the affected personalities and the Ijaw Nation.
It behooves on President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is a Yoruba man and has respect for elders should prevail on the erratic Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Wike to do the needful.
According to the Holy Scripture, there is a way seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof is dead or destruction. In the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. When a person has errant, hostility, arrogance, recalcitrance, crude and disrespectful to elders then his days are numbered.
Political leaders and their followers should have decorum and learn to season their words or utterances devoid of hate speech and tribalism in order not to heat up the polity.
It is high time politicians should stop maligning fathers or elders with derogative statements in the name of politics to get cheap popularity. A word is enough for the wise.