2015 Election: Police arrest Rivers monarch, others over shooting

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Charles Paul Ejekwu, Chairman Caretaker committee, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Charles Paul Ejekwu, Chairman Caretaker committee, Port Harcourt, Rivers State
Charles Paul Ejekwu, Chairman Caretaker committee, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

There was pandemonium Wednesday in the Mile Four area near Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, southern Nigeria, when news that the traditional ruler of Rumueprikom, Eze Anthony Owabie, allegedly shot his son at his palace.

The shooting of Prince Clement Owabie on the day that Governor Chibuike Amaechi was to visit the area, which is the community of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education, sparked violence leading to hasty closure of shops on the area.

It was learnt that Owabie had been at loggerheads with his father over party affiliations but it is not clear if the son was sent to threaten his father not to receive Governor Amaechi, leading to hot altercation.

Clement is said be a loyalist of PDP and Wike, while the paramount ruler is labeled an APC supporter.

The violence turned political as members of All Progressives Congress, APC, clashed with loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leading to destruction of some properties.

The clash between the loyalists of APC and PDP led to the injury and vandalization of properties of shop owners.

Rivers Police Command has confirmed the arrest of at least 10 persons and the invitation of the Eze Owabie by the police for interrogation.

Investigation by our correspondent could not ascertain what led to the shooting of Prince Clement Owabie but what is however clear is that the Paramount ruler had incurred the wrath of political gladiators in the state after he accepted the donation of a 500 KVA transformer and 50 KVA soundproof generator from the Chikordi Dike, the former APC caretaker committee chairman of Obio Akpor Local Government Council after Timothy Nsirim of PDP was sacked.

According to reports, Eze Anthony Owabie and the people support Governor Amaechi. It was also learnt that efforts were also made by Wike’s supporters in Rumueprikom to remove Owabie, but this was resisted by the people.

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and an APC member
Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and an APC member

Loyalists of Wike tried to impose Amaewhule Barry Wopara on Rumueprikom people as the new king, but the people rose in unison and said it would not happen, forcing Wopara to be operate from his private residence.

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Similarly, Wike and his supporters were angry with the paramount ruler for receiving the caretaker chairman of the council, Chikaordi Dike, in his palace and making comments which the minister was uncomfortable with.

Dike recently visited the palace and presented a 500 KVA transformer for the use of the community and a 50 KVA sound-proof generator for the comfort of the monarch and other people in the palace.

Nyesom Wike
Nyesom Wike

During the presentation, Owabie said the people of the community had been suffering and been in darkness for so long, even though Wike hails from Rumueprikom, making the supervising minister of education and his cohorts vow to remove him.

Owabie also received Dr Lawrence Chukwu, the current Caretaker Committee Chairman in his palace during Dr Chukwu’s tour of his council area.

Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has suspended the current ward tour due the sudden death of Charles Paul Ejekwu, the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council Area.

Tunde Ogunsakin, Rivers State Commissioner of Police
Tunde Ogunsakin, Rivers State Commissioner of Police

Ejekwu slumped and was confirmed dead at a nearby clinic where he was rushed to for medical attention.

Tony Okocha, Chief of Staff to Governor Amaechi, has accused Wike of sponsoring thugs to cause mayhem so that the governor’s ward tour to Rumueprikom does not take place.

He warned that nobody can stop the governor from meeting the citizens of the state.

Eze Owabie refused to play politics with kingship and decided that whoever wanted to visit him in his palace would be received, which made him to receive the Obio/Akpor Caretaker Chairman, which angered Wike.

The monarch is still operating in his palace, with the symbol of authority.

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