LG Chairman Immortalizes Late Obi Wali, Humiliates Wike, Strips FCT Minister of Honour

The legendary political icon of Rivers State and scion of the Ikwerre ethnic nationality, Obi Wali has been immortalized by the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Chijioke Ihunwo.

In the same vein, for his alleged role in stoking crisis in his home State, Ihunwo also stripped a former Governor of the State and current Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike of honour in his home local government, Obio/Akpor.

This move by the Obio/Akpor helmsman consolidates on an earlier effort by a former Governor of the State, Chibuike Amaaechi who named the state-owned Conference Centre along G.U. Ake Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State after the late Senator.

Born on Saturday, February 27, 1932, the late Obi Wali, who hailed from Rumuigbo Community in Apara Clan in Obio/Akpor LGA, of which he later became its traditional ruler, was elected Senator to represent Port Harcourt District in the National Assembly. He was also a minority rights activist, literary scholar, and an orator from Nigeria.

Among his achievements, he fought for the cause of the Ikwerre ethnic minorities and argued that African literature should be written in African languages.

Aside being one of the founding fathers of Rivers State, Obi Wali served as the first Commissioner for Education in the State, as well as a member of the first executive council of the State.

He was later elected as a member of the 1978 Constituent Assembly and also as a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee that drafted the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was elected as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the Second Republic and in 1980 he was elected the Minority Leader of the Nigerian Senate.

In addition to his political roles, Wali was a professor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he taught courses including “Introduction to African Literature.” Beyond his educational and political contributions in Nigeria, Wali also contributed to literary scholarship.

Meanwhile, Ihunwo dealt the FCT Minister a humiliating blow when he ordered for the removal of Wike’s name from an administrative building in the local government council secretariat earlier dedicated to the Minister’s honour.

Ihunwo gave the order on Monday, October 7, 2024 upon his arrival at the Council secretariat at Rumuodomaya following his inauguration on Sunday, October 6, 2024 by the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The Obio/Akpor LGA Chairman described Wike as someone who has not allowed the people of Rivers State to rest, and consequently ordered that his name be blotted out from the administrative block and be renamed “Obi Wali House.”

His visit was in response to the torching of Ikwerre and Emohua local government secretariats ny hoodlums suspected to be loyal to the former governor. The attacks on the secretariats followed the withdrawal of police officers earlier, allowing the hoodlums to operate freely.

Reacting to the withdrawal of policemen from the secretariats, Ihunwo said in a video posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, October 7, 2024, “I want to advise Rivers State Police Command, let them be neutral.”

“For this local government, we will protect and die; they have burnt Ikwerre, and Emouhua (council secretariats). We are ready for them, anybody who burns Obio/Akpor Secretariat, his house will be burnt,” he said, daring the hoodlums.

“This name here,” he said, pointing to the top of a duplex in the council secretariat with the inscription “Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike ADMIN BLOCK.”

“He (Wike) does not allow the people to rest. On that note, as the chairperson of the council, I have renamed it Obi Wali House,” he said amidst cheers.

He said the changes would be effected on Tuesday morning and dared anyone to challenge his decision.

Recall that Wike served as Chairman of Obio/Akpor LGA for two terms between 1999 and 2007.

He was thereafter appointed as Chief of Staff to then Governor Rotimi Amaechi, a position he served before he was nominated by Governor Amaechi and subsequently appointed by then President Goodluck Jonathan as junior Minister of Education.

With this development, Nyesom Wike becomes the first former Governor of Rivers State to be humiliated by a local government chairman, especially, his home LGA.