Supporters of Chief Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, on Wednesday blocked major roads in Eleme Local Government to protest their alleged neglect by the leadership of the Rainbow Coalition in Eleme Local Government Area.
The protesters, mainly young men, carried placards and marched around Echieta Nchia market to express their feelings about the way they have been used and dumped by leaders of the coalition in the area.
Rainbow Coalition is a political movement made up of members of different political parties that the FCT Minister is using to rally support for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu.
Leaders of the coalition currently occupy all the political offices in the area. They include Senator Olaka Nwogu (Representing Rivers South-southeast), Hon. Aforji Igwe Obey (Member of the House of Assembly), Chief Obarilomate Ollor (Chairman of Eleme Local Government) and Chief Marcus Nle Ejii (Executive Director of the South-South Development Commission).
The protesters recalled the support they gave to the leaders in the heat of the Rivers State political crisis and the intimidation they faced during the period.
Some of them alleged that they were accused of the burning down Eleme Local Government secretariat in 2024 and were summoned before the commission of inquiry that investigated the vandalism of council secretariats in Rivers State that year.
They alleged that while the FCT Minister has rewarded the Rainbow Coalition leaders in Eleme with political positions, the leaders have not done anything for their supporters.
They particularly mentioned Senator Nwogu, Hon. Obey, Chief Ollor and Chief Ejii as leaders of the coalition who have been rewarded with appointments.
A spokesperson of the protesters, who did not give his name, said, “We are not happy concerning our leadership. We are passing this message across to our supreme leader, the FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.
“We are your boys in Eleme here. But our leaders are not taking care of us. We are aware that you have settled them yet they don’t want to settle us.
“They are busy doing birthdays for their girlfriends in Los Angeles, buying cars of N200 million for a girl. They’re buying handbags of N3 million in the UK.”
He asked the minister to send people down to Eleme to confirm their claims.
Another speaker, who identified himself as General Don Asego, said they could no longer continue to be listed as thugs. “We know what we are doing,” he said.
Obari Blessing Christopher, who showed scars on his body that he sustained while fighting in support of the Rainbow Coalition, said, “I lost my leg. I am carrying bullet wounds here. My hand was not like this. They burnt my house.”
Christopher said he bore his hospital expenses alone, and no leader of the coalition cared about him.
The protesters took time out to cook and eat while protesting on the road
