Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie
The Ekpeye speaking people of Rivers State have raised the alarm over alleged plots to kill one of their sons, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie using the instruments of Government.
In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, the Ekpeye speaking people called on the President to prevail on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun to drop all the ‘trumped up charges’ file against Rt. Hon Edison, and others, saying that ‘the matter is purely a case of victimisation and oppression’.
The letter was signed by 33 sons and daughters of Ekpeye speaking people of Rivers State, which includes; Dr. Nname Robinson, Vice Chairman, Rivers West Senatorial District PDP & former Deputy Leader, Rivers State House of Assembly, Dr Chigbo Sam, former member, Rivers State House of Assembly, Ahoada West Constituency, Hon Dr. Kennedy, former member, Rivers State House of Assembly, Ahoada East Constituency 2, Hon Nwanaka, former member, River State House of Assembly Ahoada West Constituency 3, Hon. Mrs Dame, former member, Rivers State House of Assembly Ahoada East Constituency.
Others are Hon Chibudo Ezu, former member, Rivers State House of Assembly Aboada East 1 constituency, Chief Steven Ihua, former Chairman , Ahoada East LG Council, Dr. Reason Onya, former Commissioner, Ministry Urban Development & Physical Planning and Mr. Samuel Eyiba, former Commissioner Local Government Affairs among others.
They stated that Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie played pivotal role in the formative stage of the Grass Root Development Initiative (GDI), thepolitical pressure group that ushered in Nyesom Wike as Governor of Rivers State in 2015, and also served as it’s National Youth Leader from inception to date.
The letter added that Rt. Hon. Edison was a very close and dependable ally of former Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, which earned him an award of excellence by the former Governor, as Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS).
They added that the former Governor equally awarded an eleven kilometre road contract worth over N8billion from Obodi to Ozochi community the home town of Rt. Hon Edison Ehie with over 200 metres Bridge.
According to them, Rt. Hon Edison helped
mobilised the youths of Rivers State for former Governor Nyesom Wike through the One Million Youth March and also aggressively campaigned for the election of the president.
They stated that the former governor, Wike was so pleased and elated during the flag off of the Ozochi road project that he announced
to the entire world that he would hand over power to youths like Rt. Hon Edison Ehie in Rivers State.
The letter reads in part “The question now is what has changed between Rt. Hon Edison Ehie and
his former principal, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike that he is today labelled a villain. The answer is not farfetched, Nyesom Wike has zero tolerance for dissenting views. The same fate Rt. Hon Edison Ehie is suffering today is what Hon. Flag Ojukaye Amachree (former Asari Toru LGA Chairman
and All Progressive Congress APC Chairman Rivers State), Hon. Chinyere Igwe, Hon. Farah Dagogo, and Hon. Ephraim Nwuzi (Former Members, House of Representatives), Hon. Chidi Lloyd (former Majority Leader Rivers State House of Assembly).
“When Wike put up the proposal to impeach Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, Rt. Hon Edison Ehie disagreed with him. This disagreement marked the beginning of the travail of Rt. Hon Edison Ehie. Rt. Hon Edison Ehie did not commit any crime, nor persons arrested, charged and remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja. Not even the persons declared wanted by the police with him against a subsisting court order in suit No.
PHC/227/FHR/2024 Rt. Hon Edison Ogerenye Ehie V. The IGP and Commissioner of Police. As to the murder of Sp. Bako Angbashim, DPO Ahoada Division; Angbashim was murdered in Odiemudie Community (Ahoada East
Constituency 1. Whereas Rt. Hon Edison Ehie represented Ahoada East Constituency 2 in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Rt. Hon Edison Ehie cannot be held responsible for the murder of the DPO that took place in completely different constituency being represented by completely different Honourable member. The murder of the DPO was carried out
by a group of Icelander Cult Group but the Police Authority is yet to apprehend the killers”.
The stated that “several arrests have been made, and the Police has concluded investigations, submitted and its report, and 75 persons are facing prosecution in Suit No PHC/3208/CR/2023. It is worthy of note that both in the final police report and the charge sheet before the court,
Rt. Hon Edison Ehie and the persons declared wanted with him were not mentioned in any way, thus, to link Rt. Hon Edison Ehie to this murder is
a misjudgement and it amounts to trivialising the death of a brilliant police officer that has given all his best to our Society”.
“In view of the above, we call on Mr. President, to kindly prevail on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and the Inspector General of Police,
IGP Kayode Egbetokun to drop all the trumped up charges against our son Rt. Hon Edison Ogerenye Ehie, PhD DSSRS, Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and others, as the matter is purely a case of victimisation and oppression.
They commended the President for his timely intervention in finding political solution to the Political crisis that engulfed Rivers State from October 30, 2023 to date.
The also commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for obeying and implementing the peace accord.
They urged the President to prevail on all parties to the crisis to respect and abide by the peace accord,
and allow peace and development in Rivers State.
The Ekpeye speaking people also assured the President of their continuous support now and in the future.