SpicyTricks

...as Governor sidelines patience Jonathan, Evans Bipi and co.

There is a brewing crisis in the newly inaugurated government of Chief Nyesom Wike, the sitting governor of Rivers state over the sharing formula of party offices as the Riverine people of Okrika are set to battle the dominance of the upland Ikwerres. Our source revealed that on his first day at work, Wike had sworn-in Hon. Justice Daisy Okocha as the acting Chief Judge of the state, who is from the same Ikwerre ethnic group as himself.

While the dust is yet to settle over the contentious appointment, the governor was said to have on grounds of the principle of zoning which he had dismissed as unconstitutional, sidelined Hon. Evans Bipi, a surrogate of the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan when he chose Hon. Igbani Ikunyi as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Bipi who had claimed to be and was recognized by Gov. Wike as the Speaker was tipped for the plum job considering his infamous role during the attempt to unlawfully impeach former Speaker, Otele Amachree using five lawmakers out of a 32-member Assembly.

A former domestic aide of the First Lady, Patience Jonathan and her fellow kinsman from the Okrika area of the state, Evans Bipi, in spite of his ignominious role to attack and stop the Dakuku Peterside APC campaign from holding in Okrika on three occasions, was a victim of the power play which saw Prince Uche Secondus having an upper hand to produce his kinsman as the Speaker.

While informed sources say there is a disquiet within the camp of the First Lady, Bipi was said to have complained that it is too early in the day for Wike to disregard the request of Patience Jonathan, whom he had described as his 'Jesus Christ'.

Though the argument that he hails from the same senatorial zone with the governor was adduced as reasons for not appointing him, but many say that the real reason may not be unconnected with the fear of using the position to impeach the governor as well as his inability to speak English fluently due to his poor educational background.

It is gathered that there is a cold war brewing as Ateke Tom and Ayalla, kins men of Bipi who are ex-militant leaders are threatening to stop the purported dominance of the Ikwerres with whom they have had an age long rivalry over boundary adjustments in Port Harcourt.

Again, with the planned appointment of another Ikwerre son, Emeka Woke as the Chief of Staff to the governor and Austin Opara as the likely Secretary to the State Government, the Riverine people are beginning to count their loss in Wike's government.

A source close to Wike who pleaded anonymity revealed that the governor is not leaving anything to chance to ensure that the former First Lady and her Riverine people do not upstage him.