Dokubo-Asari, Tonye Princewill in face-off with Gov Wike over threat to remove Kalabari king

A former militant leader, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has said it was unfortunate that Rivers State has an “uncontrollable” person like Nyesom Wike as governor.

The former leader of Niger Delta People Volunteer Force (NDPVF) stated this in response to Wike’s alleged threat to remove the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, King Theophilus Princewill.

Also, the monarch’s son, Prince Tonye Princewill, who also reacted to the comment by Wike, described the governor in a statement, as speaking like a ‘boy’ and should be ignored by the superiors.

According to him, Wike needs prayers, because “he is the garrulous kind”.

The governor was said to have vowed to remove the monarch because he received Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson in his palace at Buguma-Kalabari.

Wike allegedly made the vow when he hosted some Kalabari stakeholders, who paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

But responding in an online statement on Friday, Dokubo-Asari cautioned Wike not to disrespect or humiliate the monarch, a former professor at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and an ex-Chairman of the Rivers Council of Traditional Rulers.

“It is sad that Rivers State will have such an uncontrollable person as Wike as governor. He has taken every opportunity to insult the people of Rivers State. Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, imposed Wike on us, while standing by him against his Ikwerre brother, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

“We will not allow Rivers governor to desecrate the exalted and hallowed throne of the Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom. How could he have threatened to sack King T.J.T. Princewill? Wike must bear in mind that paramount chiefs are not warrant chiefs.

“I am surprised that some Kalabari people sat in Government House, Port Harcourt and they watched their father (monarch) being abused. The visit of Dickson cannot divide Rivers State.

“The governor of Bayelsa State is a member of the highest Kalabari society. Dickson has every right to come, whenever the members are going to display,” Dokubo-Asari said.

He added that Wike should apologise, saying should he fail to do so, he would discover that the people of the state could not be kicked around.

The Kalabari king is said to have been in an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt, where he has been receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness.

However, his son, Prince Tonye Princewill, who also reacted to the comment by Wike, described the governor in a statement, as speaking like a ‘boy’ and should be ignored by the superiors.

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He said, “I am here by the Kalabari King’s hospital bed in Port Harcourt, where he has been for almost a week. So, you can see why my priority is not responding to Wike. The King will be 90 in a few days. So, if a small boy (Wike) speaks, his superiors do not always have to answer him, especially if he is the garrulous kind.

“I have heard what he (Wike) said and I saw the video where he was fidgety, unsteady and accompanied by the slurred speech. I watched it well.. It appears that he does not understand that everything is not politics. We should pray for him (Wike) and put him in God’s hands. I will be doing it daily. Rudeness is a weak man’s imitation of strength.”

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