Igbo Community In Bayelsa State Should Call Mr. Livinus Nwosu And His Cohorts To Order 

WISDOM ONIEKPAR IKULI

It is a generally known fact that Ijaw people, particularly Bayelsans, are very hospitable people.

It is also a well established fact that we treat strangers with so much love, respect, and dignity. It is so because we see strangers as wealth.

Before and after the creation of Bayelsa State, we have seen multitudes that came into Bayelsa State without spare clothes. They came empty-handed, but our great people accommodated them and also supported them to struggle to earn a living. Some of those visitors are now multi-millionaires and even billionaires.

It is common knowledge that Bayelsans do not discriminate or segregate. Rather, we place higher value on strangers that we often see as our social capital that is greater than physical money.

Bayelsans and the Igbo Community and other non-indigenes in the state have been living peacefully without issues. As a matter of fact, the present ASSURED Prosperity administration has appointed non-indigents as commissioners, special advisers, special assistants, and others.

It is therefore sad and quite unfortunate that Mr. Livinus Nwosu, who came into Bayelsa State in search of greener pasture, someone who is enjoying our warm hospitality is now trying to incite and also instigate crisis that will cause breach of public peace.

While no one is against his self-acclaimed activism and philanthropic gesture, there is the need for him to do the above with decorum.

It is not right for him for whatever reason(s) to subject the First Lady of Bayelsa State to public embarrassment.

Her Excellency, Dr. Mrs. Gloria Diri, the wife of the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, is a great woman of substance and pride of womanhood and motherhood.

By virtue of her position as the wife of the Governor who is the Governor-General of the Ijaw Nation, Her Excellency is the mother of over three million Bayelsans and the over forty million Ijaw people all over the world.

No reasonable or irresponsible child will insult, embarrass, abuse, or denigrate his or her parents in the public no matter the level of provocation.

Bayelsa State and the Ijaw Nation, in general, are blessed with abundant human and natural resources. Ijaw Nation boasts of some of the best brains in the world. Our Ijaw culture and tradition prioritizes respect for elders and constituted authorities.

The crux of this matter talks about a unique and very outstanding mother who acted proactively the moment she heard about the attack and molestation of Miss Nancy. As a worthy mother, she swung into action by ensuring the safety of Nancy without discriminating or segregating her as a non-Bayelsan who had issues with her friends who are Bayelsans.

Besides making sure that Miss Nancy was given adequate medical attention, Her Excellency also offered her scholarship when she lied that she secured admission at the University of Port Harcourt.

Mr. Livinus Nwosu, knowing that he made the young lady to lie, then requested for the monetization of the scholarship, which is not the right thing that should be done.

Every responsible and right thinking parent would want to give his or her children and ward sustainable opportunities that will make them independent and self-reliant instead of handouts, crumbs, and peanuts.

The above was the positive disposition of Her Excellency, but Mr. Livinus Nwosu, instead of looking at the issues from this broader perspective, resorted to blackmails, antagonism, and cyberbullying of Her Excellency.

The kind gesture of Her Excellency was not obligatory, but as a loving mother, she felt the need to use her revered position to show a high level of benevolence and goodwill.

Her Excellency does not deserve the kind of insults, abuses, embarrassment, and cyberbullying she is receiving.

I therefore call on the Igbo Community in Bayelsa State and all well-meaning Nigerians to call Mr. Livinus Nwosu and his cohorts to order.

Social media is supposed to be used as a tool and instrument to agitate for social change and not to use it while hiding under any guise to gag those we see as privileged class.

If we all acknowledge the fact that Her Excellency by virtue of her position is the mother of all Bayelsans, including Mr. Livinus Nwosu, then we should realize that every mother deserves respect from her children no matter the situation.

Finally, I urge for calmness and restraint even as stakeholders work round the clock to resolving the prevalent issue.

– Most Senior Comrade Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli
National President, 
Niger Delta Nonviolence Agitators Forum (NDNAF)