The Ogoni Youth Development Initiative (OYDI) has criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over remarks it described as mocking former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi for supporting an Ogoni governorship candidate on the platform of the African Democratic Party (ADP).
Addressing journalists, the President of OYDI, Imeabe Saviour-Oscar, said the group views Wike’s comments as an insult to the political aspirations, dignity, and collective intelligence of the Ogoni ethnic nationality.
Saviour-Oscar described the minister’s remarks as ironic and hypocritical, arguing that Wike overlooked qualified Ogoni sons and daughters for the governorship throughout his eight-year tenure as Rivers State governor.
He accused the former governor of exploiting the political loyalty and demographic strength of the Ogoni people for personal political advantage while denying them the opportunity to occupy the state’s highest office.
The youth leader said the group strongly condemns Wike’s comments and urged him to refrain from ridiculing the political aspirations of the Ogoni people.
OYDI also called on Wike to publicly tender an unreserved apology to the Ogoni nation, insisting that he should stop using the political future of Ogoniland as a tool for settling personal political disputes whenever he addresses public gatherings.
