The President of the International Council of Archbishops and Bishops for Charismatic and Pentecostal Churches, His Imperial Royal Eminence Archbishop King Benny Terry Danson (also known as the King of Knossos), has appealed for peace and restraint amid the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Addressing journalists on dressing national and state issues, Archbishop Benny Terry called on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to intervene in the lingering dispute between the current Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He warned that the prolonged tension poses a serious threat to political stability and development in the state.
The Archbishop, who described himself as a peace advocate and long-term resident of Rivers State, said he has lived in the state since the 1990s and raised his children there. According to him, his deep personal ties to Rivers State give him a moral obligation to speak out in the interest of peace and unity.
“I am not speaking as a politician but as a man of God and a stakeholder in Rivers State,” he said. “I have lived here for decades, raised my family here, and engaged successive administrations from the era of Ada George to the present leadership.”
Archbishop Benny Terry also strongly defended the former Secretary to the State Government, Hon Dr. Alabo Tammy Danagogo, dismissing allegations that he plotted against Minister Wike. He described Danagogo as a noble, disciplined, and God-fearing individual whose character, he said, has been unfairly maligned.
“I have known Hon Dr. Alabo Tammy Danagogo closely over the years. He is a man of integrity who would never plot harm against anyone. The allegations being peddled against him are fabricated and meant to discredit his personality,” he stated.
He further described reports alleging that Danagogo conspired with a pastor to assassinate the former governor as “mischievous, unfounded, and ridiculous,” insisting that such claims are being used to fuel political conflict.
While acknowledging Minister Wike’s achievements and developmental strides during his tenure as governor, Archbishop Benny Terry Danson expressed concern that the ongoing feud could overshadow his legacy. He urged Wike to embrace reconciliation and allow peace to prevail in the state.
“Minister Wike has done commendable work for Rivers State and Nigeria at large,” he said. “However, the current confrontation with Governor Fubara risks damaging his credibility and legacy.”
The cleric emphasized that leadership should be rooted in mentorship and continuity, noting that a good leader should support the growth and success of successors rather than resist it.
“A good father desires to see his children do better than him. Power is temporary, but peace and legacy endure,” he added.
His Imperial Royal Eminence, Archbishop Benny Terry Danson called on Minister Wike to disregard the allegations against Tammy Danagogo, describing them as false publications aimed at inciting discord. He appealed for dialogue, reconciliation, and mutual respect among all political actors in the state.
He warned against allowing political power struggles to degenerate into chaos, stressing that no ambition is worth the loss of lives or the destruction of the future of younger generations.
“No political position is worth bloodshed. We must not create enemies or sow seeds of conflict because of power. There will always be a time of reckoning,” he cautioned.
The Archbishop concluded by urging all parties to set aside personal differences and work collectively for the peace, unity, and sustainable development of Rivers State.
