Rivers Monarch Rejects Wike’s Thanksgiving Event in His Domain, Cites Reasons

The Amayanabo of Abalama, King Dr. A. B. Big Tom Tom JP, has firmly rejected a planned Thanksgiving Service and Civic Reception in honour of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, stating that political tension and security concerns make the event unsuitable in his domain.

In a letter addressed to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police on March 12, 2025, the monarch expressed deep displeasure over learning about the event via Facebook, despite being the paramount ruler of the host community. He described it as a personal affront and a disregard for the traditional institution.

The king recalled that in February 2025, Dr. D. A. Kelly, a known political ally of Wike and the current Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), paid a courtesy visit to his palace with a letter dated January 17, 2025. The letter was said to be a notification of a personal thanksgiving service related to Kelly’s federal appointment. However, the monarch later discovered that the event had transformed into something much larger, and politically charged.

In the letter, the monarch made it clear that he had cautioned Dr. Kelly to suspend the event due to rising political tension in Rivers State. He stated that he made multiple calls and sent text messages, all of which went unanswered. Alarmed by the unfolding developments, he said he had to issue a public radio announcement declaring Abalama off-limits for political activities.

Expressing concern for his age and the well-being of his people, the king said he felt deceived by the earlier communication from Kelly, as it misrepresented the nature of the event. Declaring Abalama a non-partisan community, the monarch stated that he and his council of chiefs had resolved that no political gatherings should be allowed in the community.

In the letter, he urged the police commissioner to take swift action, insisting that no one has the right to organise any event in Abalama without his approval and that of his council of chiefs. “Abalama is an autonomous community with a King,” he wrote, “and nobody has the right to organize such an event without my knowledge.”

He concluded by stating that the event organisers should relocate the thanksgiving service elsewhere, as neither he nor the Abalama community would be part of it.