Nigerian environmentalist and human rights activist, Annkio Briggs has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to sheath his swords in the political scuffle between him and the Governor of Rivers State.
Briggs in a recent interview said it is important for Wike to understand the political crisis between him and the incumbent governor is affecting the people of Rivers.
According to Briggs, Wike’s actions and utterances since the political crisis started in the state is unfair to the people whom he has sworn to serve and defend.
She said, “Who is he fighting? It’s Rivers people and it’s not fair. It is most unfair, even he himself has agreed and acknowledged, when it comes to somebody like me, that I supported him and that support was freely given.
“It was freely given, even when he became the FCT minister and Dr Gumi of the North raised an objection, the late EK Clark whom the FCT minister has chosen to disrespect,” Briggs said.
She further noted that leaders and elders of the state whom the former governor had formerly attack have in one way or the other shown support for him.
Also citing incidents that emanated after Wike’s appointment as the Minister of the FCT by President Bola Tinubu, Briggs said leaders of the state and the region have always thrown their weight behind the former governor.
“Even if you don’t like his positions, you don’t have to disrespect him, he can be your grandfather, you don’t have to disrespect him. Now, even at that level, I supported him, even when Gumi opposed it, I came out and made a statement that Nyesom Wike can and does have a right to be appointed by the president to oversee the Federal Capital Territory.
“I even went as saying that he has a right because it is even his money that built the FCT. So how else could people like me have shown support. He himself has said it that Annkio Briggs is somebody that would support you if you’re doing what is right and if you’re wrong she would also tell you.
“I cannot be afraid at my age now, at 70 something to tell even the president that he is wrong,” she noted.
Briggs also said that there is no anarchy anywhere in Rivers State that would require a State of Emergency as declared by the president
