AMB. SOBOMABO JACKRICH (EGBERIPAPA), OTHERS ACCUSE NYESOM WIKE OF DICTATORSHIP, HIJACKING OF PDP MACHINERY IN THE STATE
Ex Niger Delta Freedom Fighter, and Director General of Network for the Defense of Democracy and Good Governance, NDDGG Amb. Sobomabo Jackrich (a.k.a Egberipapa), has lashed out at Supervising Minister for Education, Hon. Ezebunwo Nyesom Wike over what he described as gross dictatorship and painful hijack of all PDP party structure and machinery in Rivers state through the Grassroot Democratic Initiative, GDI.
Jackrich made this assertion when members of his tutored Kengema Unity Forum, KUF and NDDGG stormed the State PDP Secretariat, located on Aba Road in Port Harcourt with youths numbering over one thousand (1000) including aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Rivers State in protest against Wike and for the resignation of the State Chairman of the party, Mr. Felix Obuah.
The protesters alleged that Obuah had not been carrying them along in the scheme of things and has been financing the Grassroots Development Initiative to the detriment of the state PDP.
Making his remark before a mammoth crowd coming from the 23 local government areas of the state, Jackrich lambasted Wike's insensitivity and disregard for other pro- Jonathan groups like the Kalabari Unity Forum, KUF, Network for the Defense of Democracy and Good Governance, NDDGG, Bonny For Jonathan Support Group, BJSG, and other stakeholder PDP members in the state striving and contributing their quota for the emergence of President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015.
He said there are already scenes of division unsettling a whole lot of things in the polity over Wike's decision to vie for the governorship position of the state using his governorship campaign outfit, Grassroot Development Initiative, GDI to hijack the party.
He condemned a situation where whatever accrues to Jonathan's support groups in the state are only shared among GDI members; “This is the height of impunity and must be halted, recently N5 million naira was allotted to each of the 23 Local Government Area in the state and only GDI members benefitted. Wrappers were shared to Jonathan support women group, only GDI women benefitted and many other dodgy dealings; now we are aware that buses are been given out to enhance Jonathan's campaign in the state and the same people yet again are positioned to benefit alone” he observed, stressing that the various stakeholders are against it and would ensure he puts a stop to it.
Hear him: “KUF and NDDGG are frontline stakeholders that have had their fair share of challenges and problems fighting the Jonathan cause, hence we deserve to have a say, we deserve to benefit, we deserve to be consulted on issues concerning PDP in the state and especially on issues concerning our Local Government” he was quoted as saying. Jackrich reiterated that “Wike cannot sit in Abuja or anywhere and tell KUF and NDDGG members who will take charge in his LGA, having expended human and capital resources to keep the Jonathan dream alive.
The protesters which include youths and women cutting across the 23 LGA's were seen carrying several placards in a charged atmosphere that reads: “Wike is a threat. PDP should know;” “Wike is a dictator, Felix Obuah, Resign Now”, “GDI is Wike's platform
for his Governorship Ambition” and “Obuah, You have failed PDP in Rivers State”, among others.”
It will be recalled that series of condemnation had heralded Wike's hijack of PDP and treachery in Rivers State last year where he was then accosted at his residence at the Ministers' Quarters in Abuja by Ambassador Soboma Jackrich for forwarding the names of his loyalists in the GDI to the national secretariat of PDP, presenting them as Ward and local government chapter officials of PDP without consultation. Then Acting Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, was cheated out of the arrangement, which though later collapsed.
Since then, suspicion had grown about Wike's true agenda in forming the GDI which he claims was formed for the purpose of campaigning for President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election in 2015. But some top sources in the PDP had disputed Wike's claims. The recent open revolt against the de facto leader of the opposition party in R ivers State may just be the beginning of other actions planned, against Wike to “cut him to size and place him where he belongs. Some high PDP chieftain in the state has also threatened they will ask President Jonathan to remove him as minister if continuous in this stead.
Some others have accused him of making it impossible to woo back defected members because his insensitive style of leadership that is allegedly blinded by his inordinate ambition for Governor.