The ‘N25 million largesse’ purportedly given to an ex-militant in Rivers State, ‘General’ Solomon Ndigbara, aka Osama Bin Ladin, is creating disquiet within the camp of ex-militants in the state.
Information Nigeria reports that the said largesse was donated by the Supervising Minister of Education, Barr. Nyesom Wike, when he visited Yeghe-Ogoni in Gokana Local Government Area of the state on May 8.
It was learnt that ex-militants are at ‘war’ with Ndigbara over the unfavorable sharing formula, which has made made many of the ‘boys’ to voice out their displeasure and threaten to withdraw their support for Wike’s governorship ambition.
But the minister, reacting through his spokesman, Samuel Nwanosike, said no money was given to Ndigbara when he visited Gokana stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Nwanosike, who doubles as the PDP State Publicity Secretary, said: “Wike visited Gokana stakeholders and Ndigbara was in attendance.
“He (Ndigbara) has been a member of the PDP since 1998 and has worked for governments at various levels.
“There was no private discussion between Wike and Ndigbara and no money was given to him by the minister. There is no crisis whatsoever. People are just spreading rumours”.
The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), through its spokesman, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to call the minister to order.
APC said: “Wike is a confused man and an enemy of Rivers State.
“We do not want to go back to the era of militancy, before Rotimi Amaechi became governor in 2007.
“APC is known for peace and will ensure change in 2015”.
But the man in the eye of the storm, Ndigbara said: “Let me make it clear that the meeting I held with the minister on May 8 was a private visit from the minister to show his love and support on my recent victory in court, against those who persecuted me.
“I do not see how the private visit has frustrated any effort in moving Rivers State or Nigeria forward. I urge APC members to focus on issues and not my private life”.
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