Following the protracted political conflict between Nyesom Wike, Minister of the FCT, and the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, his estranged godson, the Ijaw ethnic group, under the umbrella of the Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress (RIPCO), has apologized to the Minister for the Governor’s actions.
The apology was made collectively during a civic reception organized in honor of Wike at Amadi-Ama, Abuloma, in Okrika Local Government Area of the state.
The event was attended by Ijaw leaders, traditional rulers, and politicians from Ijaw-dominated areas of Rivers State.
Governor Fubara, an Ijaw from Opobo in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, was single-handedly supported by Wike, his predecessor, to become the governor of Rivers State.
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Speaking on behalf of the Rivers Ijaw, Boma Iyaye, Director of Finance and Administration at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), openly apologized to Wike, urging him to overlook the Governor’s behavior and continue his relationship with the Ijaw people.
Iyaye, in his presentation, specifically asked Wike not to judge the Ijaws of Rivers State based on the actions of one individual.
He said, “I want to apologize to you for what our son is doing to you. We are sorry. It is not in our nature to pay good with evil. Don’t because of this bad behavior and run away from us.
“Continue to be our brother. It is not because we fail exam we won’t repeat it again.
“We are not ungrateful people. That is why we are celebrating you”.
The FCT Minister was accompanied to the event by the Petroleum Minister, State, Heineken Lokpobiri; Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; former governors and members of the G5, Samuel Ortom, Benue; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu and Okezie Ikpeazu, among others.
Many known Ijaw cultural dance troupes and wrestling groups were in display to welcome Wike, whom they said Ijaw would eternally remain grateful to for producing from among them a governor and influencing the appointments of their sons and daughters at the federal level.
In his response, Wike mocked the camp of the governor for opting for the APP as their alternative political party.
He said, “Imagine in Rivers they are contemplating APP. It is not about money. Money does not move. You can have all the money but if there is no capacity there is no capacity.
“All the things you see are people envious of our growth.
“We have defeated them severally and if opportunity comes again we will defeat them.
“We have not started politics, when the time comes we will play politics.
“Our job is politics. Tell them to keep their party ready. We will teach them what is called politics”.
Wike, who called all House of Assembly members representing Ijaw extraction to join him on the stage, said out of 12 of them 10 were supporting the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule adding that the 10 were against the alleged abuse of the constitution and non performance of the governor.
On his part, Lokpobiri said Wike made his appointment possible disclosing that the discussions that gave him the appointment started at Wike’s home in Port Harcourt and ended at FCT Minister’s Abuja house.
He said, “I am proud to be here. My kinsmen from Rivers have identified the strategic help, leadership and partnership between Wike and the Ijaw people. He made my appointment possible. My case was a more direct role.
“It started in his house in Port Harcourt and was concluded in his house in Abuja. It is important to complete this history.
“We have a brother and a friend. It is better to have a good friend than to have a bad brother. A bad brother is of no use. But a good brother is a blessing.
“Let me on behalf of Ijaw people express our gratitude to you. We will always be grateful to you for what you have done and we are looking forward to you to do more.
“We are not known for betraying people. You are not just a leader of Rivers, apart from President Tinubu I don’t know any other leader that plays the role you play. You are our leader.
“One of the few national leaders and we are proud to associate with you”.
