DESPITE the unresolved dispute over the ownership of some oil wells between Rivers and Bayelsa states, former President Goodluck Jonathan has sued for their peaceful co-existence.

Jonathan made the call at the weekend during the Rivers State Golden Jubilee celebration when the state honoured 127 distinguished Nigerians who served the state meritoriously in different fields of human endeavour.

The former president, who was a special guest of honour at the occasion, observed that Governor Nyesom Wike does not discriminate against Bayelsans living in the state. He, therefore, urged the two states to live in harmony.

“I was honoured with the award of Grand Service Star of Rivers State. I thank the governor for this honour. This award has a special place in my heart. This award is coming from a place I called my home. After my secondary school education, the rest of my public service have been in Port Harcourt,” he said.

Jonathan commended Wike for instituting a 50-year strategic plan to develop Rivers State. Prominently absent at the occasion was Chibuike Amaechi, minister of Transportation and a former governor of the state who turned honour bestowed on him by Governor Wike. Apparently by Amaechi’s action, Wike castigated his predecessor in office.

Wike said that the state executive council had put machinery in motion to honour and celebrate Rivers people for their exemplary achievements and contributions to the development of the state and the nation.

Despite the difficulty encountered in carrying out the assignment, he said the purported rejection of the award by Amaechi was unfortunate.

He said: “Now that our constitutional magnanimity in the spirit of jubilee is unappreciated, we think it is in order to amend the law and dare its consequences than for this development to be undermined. This is because for us and as a principle, occupying the state highest office alone isn’t enough reason to warrant state honours. The ability to embark on good governance should be one and most paramount consideration.”

Nevertheless, all civilian and military former governors of the state accepted the award except Amaechi, who described it as a “poisoned chalice.”

Prominent among the awardees were Jonathan; Patience Jonathan, his wife; Alfred Diete-Spiff, first Rivers Military governor; Peter Odili, a former and Rufus Ada George, a former governor, among others.

—  May 29, 2017 @ 09:35 GMT