The story about the life of Rivers politician, who is now a traditional ruler, His Royal Highness Sergeant Eze Ohna Chidi Awuse of Emohua traditional kingdom, will not be complete without reliving how his political career was revived and uplifted with his First Class enthronement and economic empowerment. The kith and kin relationship existing between HRH Eze Ohna Chidi Awuse & Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister is a key father. His rise may not be unconnected to the fact that Wike while holding sway as Governor of Rivers publicly declared that Awuse was a forerunner to the quest for an Ikwerre man to emerge as Governor of Old Rivers state which was realised through Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and himself.
In the 1990s when Old Rivers State politics was dominated by the largest geo-political ethnic group in South-South, being the Ijaw ethnic nationality, it was unheard of for the Ikwerre ethnic group or Ogoni , Ibani or Engenni or Ogba ethnic groups to rise to political power in Rivers. But with the creation of Bayelsa State by late General Sani Abacha’s military government, it became obvious that in Rivers State, Ikwerre ethnic nationality with Igbo major ethnic nationalities who are close neighbours and majority residing in Rivers State now turned a political fortune for the Ikwerre ethnic group. In the 1999 political re-arrangement of the 4th Republic Chief Sergeant Awuse battled Sir Peter Odili for a place in the PDP but he was overwhelmed by the role played by late, Dr. Marshall Harry who picked Dr. Peter Odili in his place. Thus, in 2003 when Awuse tried in All Peoples Party (APP) which later transmuted to All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) he was unable to emerge as Governor of Rivers state. That was how far Chief Sergeant Awuse struggled, having been defeated by Chief Zebulon Abule, and Dr. Peter Odili and even his kins man, late Eric Aso. He was left to shrink in his political influence in Rivers State.
When Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi emerged in 2007 to become Governor of Rivers, Chief Sergeant Awuse, was not given front row because Amaechi was seen as a product of Sir Dr. Peter Odili who Awuse battled politically, but failed.
So, when in 2015 Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike, became Governor, he quickly took interest in resurrecting economic fortunes of Sergent Eze Ohna Awuse who by training is a Chartered Accountant. Chief Sergeant Awuse, was pronounced a First -Class King and paramount traditional Ruler of Emohua Ancient Kingdom. Eze Ohna Awuse was also pronounced Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, a very powerful institution with the ears of the Governor, since they are the custodians of the tradition and customs of the people of Rivers State.
That was before the 2023 political problems in Rivers state that threw up Siminialayi (who Sergeant Awuse, played a major role in supporting his emergence as the next Governor, along with elders like Sir Dr. Peter Odili, who many believed selected the Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu who was an adjunct Lecturer at Pamo University of Medical Sciences-PUMS, Port Harcourt.
Both Awuse and Nyesom Wike have had a close relationship. When Eze Ohna Awuse went for surgery in London, it was Governor Wike who flew into London and went straight to his bedside at the hospital and took charge of all the medical bills. And when Eze Ohna Awuse returned to Nigeria and had a Survival Thanksgiving and after a convivial party, he told all who cared to listen to him at his Visa Karina Hotel, off Olu Obasanjo Road Port Harcourt; “to thank Governor Nyesom Wike for him”. He boldly informed his listeners, as he launched his “Awuse Cancer Center” with office at his Dougeli Consult building located at Mile 4 Ikwerre road Port Harcourt.
Again, his 5 percent remuneration from statutory allocation to Emohua Local Government Area for traditional Rulers in the LGA was secured with extra allowances as Chairman of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers coming, courtesy of Wike as Governor then. The honeymoon came to an abrupt hault with the political differences between Wike and Fubara. Vexed with the disloyalty against his administration,in June,2024 Governor Fubara quickly turned his heart against Eze Sergeant Awuse and selected Eze Apara Rebisi Eze Ohna Chike Worlu Wodo another Ikwerre First Class traditional Ruler as substantive Chairman of Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council.
Eze Ohna Awuse had in the last week of August, 2024 directed all his subjects and followers to keep on supporting Wike for his days as leader of PDP in Rivers State will soon be resuscitated irrespective of the ongoing political quagmire.
He spoke in Ikwerre language as he vehemently asked his subjects to remain loyal to Wike and never mind Governor Siminialayi Fubara. He warned anyone supporting Fubara not get close to his House (Palace). In 2023, Oyo State Government appointed Eze Ohna Sergeant Chidi Awuse, the Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
–+234(0)8111813069
For story submissions and inquiries, please email us at citypeopleonline96@gmail.com