Ijaw people of Rivers State yesterday spoke on the protracted rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
They rejected the protests against the minister, saying that the ethnic group should be eternally grateful to him for endorsing Fubara for governor.
The leaders, women, youths and traditional rulers converged in Port-Harcourt, the state Capital, to thank Wike for his kind disposition to the ethnic group.
At the meeting organised by he Rivers Ijaw Peoples’ Congress (RIPC) were George Kelly Alabo, Boma Iyayi, Igbani Owaji, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, Prof. Henry Ogiri, Sampson Ngeribara, Major Jack, Amb Dame Maurine Tamuno, Rufus Godwins, Ojukaiye Flag Amachree Isobo Jack, and Pleasant Briggs.
Also there were chairmen of local government areas and some members of the House of Assembly.
However, Fubara, said efforts to frustrate his administration in the last one year has failed.
He spoke at the special thanksgiving service to mark his first year in office at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Garrison Junction in Port Harcourt.
The Ijaw Peoples Congress in its communique read by Senator George Sekibo said Wike ensured that power shifted from upland to lowland for the first time in 24 years.
Sekibo expressed sadness over the infusion of false narrative of ethnic colouration into the disagreement between Fubara and Wike, who described as his benefactor.
He said the governor appeared to to be sentiment to covey the impression of a raging war between Ijaw and Wike
Sekibo said: “Over the centuries, the Ijaw people have been historically known for their gratitude to their benefactors and this has not changed even in the present circumstances.
“We are not unaware of the political dissension in Rivers State and how some prominent Ijaw personalities have been made to join innocently to fuel the disagreement, not minding the boomerang effect of such actions on the future of our children and generations to come.
“We, therefore, call on all well-meaning Ijaw leaders in Rivers State and other neighbouring states as well as in the diaspora to join efforts with the Rivers Ijaw Peoples’ Congress as we yearn for a continued and sustained development and growth of Rivers State, the foundation of which was laid by the previous administration.
“It is worthy of of recalling that in his non-discriminatory and inclusive leadership style, the Honourable Minister of Federal Capital Territory has continued to show goodwill and live to the Ijaw nation as reflected in the appointments of illustrious Ijaw sons and daughters into positions of trust at the federal level.”
Sekibo listed Ijaw leaders, whose appointments were facilitated by Wike.
They include Chief Boma Iyayi (Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Nigef Delta Development Commission(NDDC); Rufus Goodwins, (Federal Commissioner, Federal Civil Service); Chief George-Kelly Alabo (Director-General, Border Communities Development Agency); Ambassador Maureen Tamuno (Managing Director, Abuja Investment Company), and Prof. Henry Ogiri (Commissioner, National Population Commission).
He said: “The wrong notion that Ijaw people are in disagreement with other tribes or persons over the current political impasse poses a significant danger to our Ijaw communities and people, particularly regarding peaceful coexistence among themselves and with other tribes and people’s.”