By Sam Akanimo
The aggrieved Ijaw people of Rivers State are saying that the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, would have been an inconsequential figure in Nigeria today, if they didn’t do what they did in 2015.
They are claiming that they took an advantage of former President Goodluck Jonathan, through his wife, Dame Patience, to make Wike governor.
A socio-political group, Rivers Ijaw Peoples Forum, which comprises chiefs, elders, men,women and youths of the ljaw ethnic nationality in Rivers, said si.
The Forum is an umbrella body of the 12 Ijaw-speaking local government areas of the big oil and gas state in Nigeria.
Leaders of the Forum, Annkio Briggs, Prof. Alaboyedia W. Obianimi, Warisenibo Alfred A. Allison, Chief David Briggs, and Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja, in a statement are going mad with Wike.
According to them, in 2014, “we actively supported and deployed our abundant resources under the instrumentality and direction of our own, former President Jonathan and his wife Patience, to ensure the emergence of Wike, as the governorship candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”
The Ijaw people say they effectively mobilised the electorate in the state to massively vote for the Wike candidature in the 2015 governorship election.
“We repeated the same support in the 2019 elections and Wike was retured for a second term as governor of Rivers. In 2023, we extended our winning support to the current governor, Siminialayi Fubara.
“It has come to our notice that some ijaw sons and daughters, at the direction of their Abuja leader, are clandestinely meeting with the sole aim of insulting and embarrassing our national and regional leaders who have in one way or the other expressed support and solidarity with the Governor Fubara.
“We strongly advise that they desist forthwith from being willing tools in the hands of the enemies of Rivers.We at this point categorically state that:
“We did not mandate or authorize any person or group of persons under this name, logo and any other Ijaw groupings to insult and embarrass the person and the office of Governor Fubara, Chief Edwin Clark, Dr. Jonathan, and other Ijaw leaders.
“Neither did we approve or authorize any form of disrespect to the political friends and allies of Ijaw ethnic nationality across the country.
“Having spent our time and resources in supporting the administration of Wike for eight years, we continue to maintain that this is not an ethnic crisis and shall refuse to play the ethnic card. We therefore object Ijaw sons and daughters accepting to be used as canon-fodders in the political upheaval.
“We congratulate Fubara. Governor of Rivers for having meritoriously, carefully and prayerfully navigated the murky waters of Rivers politics and successfully governed the state for one year and placed her on the path of peace and progress.
“We thank all the indigenous ethnic nationalities of Rivers and the non-indigenes that live and work in our beloved state for their unflinching support and prayers for the governor.
“We also thank our national leader and father, Chief Clark, and Dr. Peter Odili for their immense support. We must not forget the roles of Rivers women and youths. We also thank them for their support for the governor.
“On behalf of all the Ijaw groups, within and outside Rivers, we pledge our unalloyed and total support to Governor Fubara.
“We call on all people of goodwill of our dear state to continue to pray for and support Fubara, the governor of Rivers.”
