By Simeon Nwakaudu<\/p>\n
The last time I heard from Mr Austin Tam-George was when he wrote a
\nmisguided piece, “Tonye Cole And The Moment Of Epiphany”. At that time,
\nthe failed APC Federal Government had promised them the use of the
\nNigerian Army to capture Rivers State and basking in the euphoria of an
\nanticipated political rape, Austin Tam-George had penned down that
\nunfortunate article.<\/p>\n
Today, Tonye Cole serves as the Body Guard for Anthony Joshua in
\nAjegunle, whilst Tam-George is struggling to find his feet in the APC
\nfast failing lying machine.<\/p>\n
I reminded him at that time that Rivers people were firmly behind
\nGovernor Wike.\u00a0 His new Oga, Tonye Cole could not even make it to the
\nballot, let alone contest that election.\u00a0 Tam-George joined the Amaechi
\nRigging Mercenary Squad that teamed up with the AAC and the Nigerian
\nArmy.\u00a0 Needless to say they were defeated despite\u00a0 their deployment of
\nextensive military machine against the good people of Rivers State.<\/p>\n
This Evening, my attention was drawn to yet another misadventure by Mr
\nAustin Tam-George in a piece he titled: “A GOVERNOR’S DIALOGUE WITH
\nCHRIST”. Initially, I thought that Tam-George\u00a0 ‘shared’ the press
\nstatement written against Governor Wike by the Muslim Rights Concern
\n(MURIC).\u00a0 MURIC and other Muslim Groups led the attack on Governor Wike
\nwhen he reiterated that Rivers\u00a0 is a Christian State.<\/p>\n
First, Tam-George has the courage to mock Christ in his offensive piece
\nbecause Christians\u00a0 are liberal minded.\u00a0 He cannot do that with the
\nother major religion in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Since Tam-George defected to the APC, he has lost his capacity for
\narticulate\u00a0 examination of issues. He has lost the strength\u00a0 to stand in
\ndefence of Rivers State.\u00a0 In his few engagements, he has struggled in
\nvain\u00a0 to please the Muslim Leaders of APC in his quest to gain placement
\nin the Janjaweed APC Structure.<\/p>\n
To Tam-George, Governor Wike committed a crime by stating the obvious.
\nWorldwide, Governor Wike is known as a man of truth. He is\u00a0 not given to
\nhypocrisy.\u00a0 This is the main reason why Rivers people prefer him.<\/p>\n
Rivers is a Christian State.\u00a0 Same way that Sokoto, Zamfara, Jigawa,
\nKatsina etc in the far north have declared themselves Muslim States. In
\nterms of the population, over 98 percent of Rivers people are
\nChristians.<\/p>\n
Tam-George is unhappy that Governor Wike is committed to his Christian
\nfaith. He is unhappy that the Governor built an Ecumenical Centre with
\npublic funds. But the Federal Government has a National Mosque and a
\nNational Christian Centre funded with public\u00a0 resources.\u00a0 The Federal
\nGovernment\u00a0 funds Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission and National Hajj
\nCommission. This level of hypocrisy is one of the fundamental reasons
\nwhy Rivers people continue to reject\u00a0 the APC.<\/p>\n
Whilst a Commissioner under Governor Wike, Tam-George\u00a0 announced the
\nflag off of the Rivers State Ecumenical Centre, which he now finds
\noffensive because he has defected to the APC.\u00a0 Governor Wike flagged off
\nthe construction of the Ecumenical Centre and Port Harcourt Pleasure
\nPark on same day. They are both iconic structures in Rivers State.<\/p>\n
Tam-George raised the issue of unemployment in his piece. Right from his
\nfirst term, Governor Wike has committed himself to the creation of
\nemployment opportunities. His countless projects created thousands of
\njobs across the 23 Local Government Areas. Now in his second term,
\nGovernor Wike has opened up employment opportunities in the civil
\nservice, schools and other government departments. In a similar vein,
\nthe Rivers State Government handed out interest free loans to young
\nentrepreneurs to grow their businesses.<\/p>\n
I was surprised\u00a0 that Tam-George had the courage to talk about
\ninsecurity in Rivers State.\u00a0 Rivers State is one of the safest places in
\nNigeria today.\u00a0 The entire North West, North East and North Central have
\ncollapsed in the worst wave of insecurity in the history of the country.
\nThe South-West where Tam-George resides has been hijacked by Herdsmen
\nand Bandits . They rob and kidnap with carefree abandon.\u00a0 Rivers State
\nhas its own security challenges, but it remains\u00a0 one of the safest
\nplaces due to the innovative and proactive approach of Governor Wike.<\/p>\n
In an article titled: “Governor Wike’s Finest Hour” on October 10, 2016,
\nTam-George\u00a0 had this to say about Wike’s courage and commitment\u00a0 to
\nsocial good.<\/p>\n
“Governor Wike’s courageous insistence on the supremacy of the law, even
\nas he was physically assaulted by men of the DSS, is his finest service
\nto Nigeria.The governor’s historic intervention reminds us of the
\nsacrifice every Nigerian must now be prepared to make, as we challenge
\nthe tyranny and anarchy that loom over our nation”.<\/p>\n
In an interview with Pulse on August 18, 2016, Tam-George as then Rivers
\nState Commissioner of Information articulated the Wike’s security
\nprowess.<\/p>\n
Tam-George said: “As a principle, Governor Wike supports and works
\nclosely and respectfully with all security agencies. All he wants is for
\nthe security agencies to be insulated from partisan politics, so that
\nthey could focus on their jobs. That is his point. Police and other
\nsecurity personnel posted to serve in Rivers State should fight crime
\nand help maintain the peace.\u00a0 We welcome and will support anyone posted
\nto Rivers State. We only ask that they conduct their work
\nprofessionally. This is the governor’s point. He will continue his
\nunflinching support to the police and all security institutions in the
\nState”.<\/p>\n
Today, sports is one of the highest employers of labour across the
\nglobe. International Football is a key avenue of empowering youths. The
\nestablishment\u00a0 of Real Madrid Football Academy is aimed at creating
\nfuture international football stars.\u00a0 This Football Institution has the
\nsupport and blessing of Real Madrid Football Club.\u00a0 It is embarrassing
\nthat Tam-George attempted to\u00a0 berate the creation of this important
\nschool.\u00a0 But when you remember that Tam-George has joined the APC, then
\nyou will eagerly forgive him.\u00a0 In the APC, the norm is
\nunder-development.\u00a0 Tam-George captured it well while he was still on
\nthe positive side.<\/p>\n
On September 25, 2016, Tam-George wrote: “The APC leaders in Rivers
\nState seem to be more interested in their shiny hats and cosmetic bags
\nat media briefings. Hardly would you hear them engage in a meaningful
\ndebate on\u00a0 how to put the state on a sustainable trajectory of growth “.<\/p>\n
In mentioning the meeting that Governor Wike had with ambassadors of
\nEuropean Union in Abuja, Tam-George suffered amnesia.\u00a0 He forgot that
\nRivers State Governor and the Heads of Mission agreed on a partnership
\nin the area of commercial agriculture with the objective of employment
\ngeneration. This opening created for Rivers State by the European Union
\nwas principally in response\u00a0 to the outstanding performance of Governor
\nWike and his grassroots support base.<\/p>\n
It is rather disheartening that Tam-George decided to dance on the
\ngraves of those killed during the Pipeline Explosion at Kom Kom in
\nOyigbo Local Government Area.\u00a0 For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers
\nState Government , the PDP and all key stakeholders have worked together
\nto address the situation.<\/p>\n
The Government House through the Office of the Deputy Governor, the
\nState Ministry of Environment, the Oyigbo Local Government Council,
\nSenator Representing Rivers South-East (PDP), the House of
\nRepresentatives Member, Representing Tai\/Eleme\/Oyigbo\u00a0 Federal
\nConstituency (PDP)\u00a0 and the PDP Leadership in the area directly
\nintervened and alleviated the pains of victims.\u00a0 All stakeholders are
\nworking\u00a0 to ensure a closure.<\/p>\n
The Rivers State Government in a meeting\u00a0 with\u00a0 the Senate AdHoc
\nCommittee on Pipe Line Explosion in Kom Kom, Oyigbo Local Government
\nArea of Rivers State hoped that recommendations\u00a0 of the committee would
\nensure that such tragedies\u00a0 don’t happen again.\u00a0 This committee was set
\nup by the Senate Leadership after a motion by the Senator Representing
\nRivers South East Senatorial District.<\/p>\n
The Rivers State under Governor Wike that Tam-George described to Pulse
\nin his interview on August 18, 2016 has grown better.<\/p>\n
Hear Tam-George in that interview: “Governor Wike has brought Rivers
\nState back on its feet again. There is an impressive momentum of
\ndevelopment everywhere you turn. The government is re-vitalising the
\nState through the provision of critical infrastructure. Roads that were
\nabandoned for decades and were impassable in many places have been
\ncompletely re-constructed. Over 180 km of roads across the State have
\nbeen completed in one of the most challenging terrains for
\nconstructions. The Governor is implementing a massive urban renewal
\nplan, and the construction of roads and bridges form the centrepiece of
\nthis plan. Even street lights and road traffic lights are being restored
\non all major roads. This has given Port Harcourt a more functional and
\nliveable outlook” .<\/p>\n
The above statement by\u00a0 Tam-George\u00a0 was made when he was still in
\ncontrol of the facts of the pro-Rivers struggle. It is a summation of
\nthe reality on ground in today’s Rivers State.\u00a0 It was for this reason
\nthat Rivers people stood with Governor Wike during the invasion of the
\nAAC\/APC\/ARMY Alliance.\u00a0 It was for this reason that unarmed women,
\nyouths and elders stood their ground\u00a0 to insist on their mandate being
\nrespected.<\/p>\n
Tam-George hates the declaration that Rivers is a Christian State, but
\nhe posited that there are over 5000 Churches in the state. This is the
\nugly form of hypocrisy\u00a0 that has led to the destruction of Nigeria by
\nthe APC.\u00a0 They talk from all sides of their mouth.\u00a0 These Churches that
\nTam-George mocked stood firm for Governor Wike.\u00a0 They refused to allow
\nthe Janjaweed elements kidnap Rivers State. As a Godfearing Christian,
\nGovernor Wike will never be intimidated by these Janjaweed elements into
\nforgetting that Rivers is a Christian State.<\/p>\n
The more these Janjaweed fighters cry, the more the declaration will be
\nmade. The more these Janjaweed fighters attempt to play the Ostrich, the
\nmore the Church of Christ will prevail.\u00a0 The Federal Government
\ncontinues to promote RUGA, Cattle Colonies and other issues that promote
\na particular divide, all Tam-George\u00a0 can do at this time of National
\nDespondency is to display\u00a0 the worst form of hypocrisy.<\/p>\n
By Simeon Nwakaudu The last time I heard from Mr Austin Tam-George was when he wrote a misguided piece, “Tonye Cole And The Moment Of Epiphany”. At that time, the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67618,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n