The face off between the former Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike with his supporters on one side and the sitting Governor Sir Sim Fubara and his own supporters on the other side took a new dimension yesterday while the Governor Fubara was off to Abuja.
There were shootings around the Government House axis wherein our reporters reliably learnt that when the crowd of youths assumed to be Fubara’s supporters were pushing the gate trying to gain entrance to the Government House, the security personnel saw it as a threat and shot sporadically and people ran for their dear lives.
With the tension and fear the protesting youths dispersed. The tension spread to Diobu and traders packed their wares. This affected economic activities in Port Harcourt and environs as many traders decided not to go to market while those who managed to go treaded cautiously. though by the time of filing this story, today normalcy has not returned.
Mrs Felicia Johnpaul a petty trader along Abonnema Wharf Road interviewed by our reporters said that for the past two days, business in the area has been crippled as there are no buyers. Adding that many people are annoyed over the whole thing. Felicia stated that there was hardship before then and now all attention is channelled to the crisis.
Mr. Okechukwu Obi who has provision shop along Njemanze street says that the ring road has already affected the economic activities of Diobu and added to the present political activities. He complained that the whole situation has caused traffic in that area and also slow down sales. He explained that this is as a result of demolition of business and residential building along Abakiliki Street, Urualla Street. The business of the area has been greatly threatened to the extent that many streets in Diobu are affected.
Recall that the two day political unrest started when a group of Wike loyalists in the state Assembly tried to impeach Governor Fubara, giving rise to explosion and setting ablaze of the Assembly building. Former Governor Wike was fingered as the perpetrator and as one who masterminded the feud.
Though Nyesom Wike who orchestrated the crisis including the impeachment plot against Sir Siminalayi Fubara describes it as a party affair wherein it will be resolved stressing that it is never an ethnic affair as he told the South South Leaders delegation who visited him yesterday, stating that every individual politician has his interest.
It was believed that the meeting was fruitful even as the two met in Aso Villa after which Governor Fubara quickly restores the appointment of Wike’s loyalists.
