The president of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, has lamented the rift between Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Okaba also said the INC is only committed to ensuring peace, unity, and development in the entire Ijaw nation including Rivers.
The INC boss spoke yesterday when Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress (RIPCO) led a delegation of its leaders to hold a crucial meeting with the INC leadership at Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
The crucial meeting on the political developments in Rivers also had in attendance leaders of the Ijaw umbrella youth body, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).
Okaba said the INC would work closely with any organisation that would benefit the Ijaw nation, describing Ijaw interest as paramount.
He said the INC was not happy that the Ijaw people were divided over the political crisis in Rivers, insisting that Ijaws could be strong even in diversity of political affiliations.
Okaba said: “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 the Ijaw nation.
“Ijaw Nation is grateful to Wike for working for an Ijaw man to lead Rivers State. We don’t hate him.
“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. The mandate of INC is to protect the interest of the Ijaw people. And it will remain so.
“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.
“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.
“However, let’s not in any way frustrate Sim Fubara. He is the undisputed Governor of Rivers State.
“So 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.”
The Professor of Sociology warned that the Rivers political feud could worsen if not properly managed.
Earlier, the Leaders of the RIPCO delegation, Senator Alabo George Sekibo and Hon. Boma Iyaye said there was a need for the INC to maintain neutrality in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers.
They told the INC that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, had demonstrated his love for the Ijaw nation contrary to claims in some quarters arising from the political crisis rocking Rivers State.
They said the narrative that Wike hated the Ijaws was not true, noting that out of his love, Wike gave more federal appointments he attracted to Rivers to Ijaw leaders and recalled that during his administration as the governor, he appointed Ijaw people into strategic positions.
Specifically, Sekibo said though the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara had problems with his benefactor, Wike, the governor had not told the Ijaw nation the reasons for their feud.
He said Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress was interested in the unity amongst Ijaw people and rancour-free collaborations with other ethnic nationalities in the state.
Sekibo emphasized that without the cooperation of other ethnic groups in the state, the Ijaw, as a minority group in Rivers, would not win elections in the state.
He said: “Ijaws are minorities in Rivers State. We can’t win elections on our own. We have to work with other ethnicities in Rivers State.
“Wike does not despise Ijaw people contrary to claims in some quarters. Five out of the nine federal appointments he facilitated to Rivers State were given to Ijaw leaders.
“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.”
Sekibo appealed to the Okaba-led INC not to take sides in the crisis but to work assiduously to resolve the current political misunderstanding in the state for the good of the Ijaw nation.
