The National President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof Benjamin Okaba, has warned against attempts to frustrate the government of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Okaba, who gave the warning in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State when a delegation of Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress (RIPC) led by Senator George Sekibo, visited him at Ijaw House, said Fubara was the undisputed Governor of Rivers State.
He warned that the political crisis in the state could further degenerate if not properly handled, regretting that Ijaws were divided in the feud between the Rivers State Governor and his predecessor now Minister of the FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike. Sekibo, who represented Rivers East in the Senate, is a loyalist of Wike.
Okaba said, “Let’s not in any way frustrate Sim Fubara. He is the undisputed Governor of Rivers State, we must come together because our unity is our strength. I believe we can be strong even in diversity. But let’s not fight ourselves.
“While we are calling for peace and appreciating the godfather (Wike) who brought him, the Governor deserves our respect. You have to protect him because he is our son.
“You are free to be loyal to Wike since he has been good to you. Ijaw people are very grateful people. We have been helped and we are also helping.
“Ijaw Nation is grateful to Wike for working for an Ijaw man to lead Rivers State. We don’t hate him. This matter is an internal matter that we can settle amicably. For the sake of Ijaw nation, let us not allow ourselves to be divided. Let’s not allow anyone to sow the seed of discord.
“We also recall the efforts of Ijaw people in Wike’s political journey, especially his emergence as governor. There was a time INC spokesman responded to a Northern group that lambasted Wike. We said we cannot allow people to attack any Niger Delta leader for no just cause while we are here.
“We will support any group that will benefit Ijaw people. In the same manner, we are going to fight any group that is against the progress of Ijaw nation. The mandate of INC is to protect the interest of Ijaw people. And it will remain so.”
Okaba recalled that Wike whom the RIPCF said is an adopted Ijaw son once said “thunder should fire Ijaws” but we ignored him because he forgot that Ijaws are the owners of thunder.
Okaba who said INC was not happy that Ijaws in Rivers State were divided also frowned at the divergent opinions being expressed by Ijaw people in public.
He thanked the delegation for the visit, and said the visit suggested that the group wanted the feud to be resolved.
Senator Sekibo, urged INC to remain neutral in the Rivers political feud. He said Governor Fubara had issues with his political godfather, Wike and had not told Ijaw people the reasons for their feud.
He therefore called for unity amongst Ijaw people, who he said should make strategic efforts to work with other ethnicities in Rivers State
“Ijaws are minorities in Rivers State. We can’t win elections on our own. We have to work with other ethnicities in Rivers State,” he said.
The leader of the delegation however said: “As a group, Sim is our governor. We are not fighting him. But we will keep praying for him for wisdom. We believe he is being distracted.”
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