Governor Wike of Rivers State, Nigeria, has subjected traditional rulers in his state to obloquy following their appearance at a meeting with the governor.
The embarrassment was brought on the traditional rulers during a quarterly meeting held on Wednesday with the governor in Port Harcourt, the capital city.
Wike, who was responding to a request from the Chairman of the Rivers State traditional council on the proliferation of non-recognised traditional rulers, poured vitriol on the monarchs, making them feel ridiculed.
“It’s not for you to take it (staff of office) and go and keep it in your bedroom or put it in your shrine, for those of you who worship various shrines.”
“It’s for when you are coming out for official function, you come with it. That differentiates you from any other chief. Some people call themselves ‘Royal Highnesses’ when they aren’t recognised by government, but you also carry a walking stick that is meant for other people who are not recognised by government. I want to tell the Attorney General so that we propose a bill to the State House of Assembly that if you are not a government recognised traditional ruler, you don’t bear ‘Your Royal Highness,” the governor said.
The moment the audience attempted to cheer Wike’s remarks on steps being taken to make traditional rulers duly recognised, the governor scolded them.
“Stop clapping. You are being selfish. Stop clapping. It’s the right thing to do. It’s not because of you because you won’t be there forever. It’s to protect the institution. So, don’t clap because you are there now.”
“This year we are going into will be a serious year….stop shaking your head because that’s sycophancy,” Wike stopped mid sentence with his gaze panning to one traditional ruler,” he stated.
“You…stop shaking your head. You are one of those causing problems. They gave you chieftaincy but you are a young boy so you don’t even know what to do with it. And then when I’m speaking you are shaking your head like this,” he trumped.
“All fake! Fake! You just go and wear something that is bigger than you…when someone is looking for power. You’d think he’s an elderly person. Very small young man, this boy. I know when I was in school, he was running around us, going on errands. Now he’s wearing Usman Dan Fodio. Then he begins to breach protocol. He thinks when he’s shaking his head like this, I’d be happy. That’s fake…that’s fake ….” he said.
