The name of former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been removed from the administrative block of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.
Wike is a former chairman of the council.
The building has now been renamed in honour of the late Senator Dr. Obi Wali, a prominent Ikwerre leader, politician, and renowned minority rights advocate.
The renaming followed a directive by the new Chairman of the Council, Chijioke Ihunwo, after he successfully took over the council secretariat on October 7 when crisis rocked some council secretariats in Rivers State.
The two-storey 30-room ultra-modern Administrative Building (all en-suite), was built by the immediate past administration led by Barrister George Ariolu, and was named after the FCT Minister who was the Chairman of the Council for two terms from 1999.
The new chairman who served as the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the council for 3 months before he was elected on the platform of the Action People’s Party in the last election believes that the late Senator Obi Wali, who is credited for the political emancipation of the Ikwerre people is more deserving of the honour.
Senator Obi Wali, born in 1932, was a political figure who joined in championing the rights of the Ikwerre ethnic nationality of Rivers State.
His legacy as a senator and cultural advocate earned him respect among his people and beyond.
His name now prominently adorns the Obio/Akpor council’s administrative block as a tribute to his lifelong contributions.
His name also ardorns the popular and most iconic government-run event centre in Rivers state, known as Obi Wali International Conference Centre along G. U. Ake road in Port Harcourt.
