Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and Suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has accused former Governor Nyesom Wike of setting two stringent conditions for the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, in an attempt to gain full control over the state, as reported by Vanguard on Friday.
According to Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the president of the Ijaw apex socio-cultural group, Wike demanded that Fubara allow him to control all local government areas (LGAs) in the state and agree not to contest the 2027 gubernatorial election.
In a statement, Okaba emphasized that Wike’s demands were driven by an insatiable desire to dominate the state’s power and resources.
He said, “In a recent statement credited to him, he (Wike) said the two conditions he must meet are: ‘Allow him to control all the LGAs in Rivers State, and that he (Fubara) should sign an agreement that he would not contest in 2027.”
Okaba described Wike’s actions as an attempt to turn Rivers State into his personal property, which, according to him, would ultimately harm the people of the state.
“He wants to turn Rivers State into his property, and the people of Rivers State are the ones to suffer,” Okaba stated.
He further criticized Wike’s behavior, asserting that the governor, who had a mandate to provide sustainable development for the people, should not compromise his responsibility just to appease one individual.
The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday has reignited concerns among the Ijaw people, with the INC president stating that the move was a “slap” to the Ijaw ethnic group.
Okaba expressed his discontent with the decision, noting that the Ijaw people were deeply unhappy with the emergency rule.
He suggested that such a drastic measure was hasty, especially when there were other ways for the president to address the political crisis, particularly by leveraging his influence to reign in Wike, whom Okaba described as the “antagonist” in the current situation.
Okaba pointed out that Tinubu had several opportunities to intervene and address the calls made by Nigerians from various quarters, urging the president to take action against Wike’s disruptive influence.
According to Okaba, the declaration of emergency rule without first addressing the underlying political tensions in Rivers State left the Ijaw people feeling marginalized.
In light of these developments, the INC has called for a wider stakeholders’ meeting to deliberate on the Ijaw people’s position and their future within the Nigerian project.
Okaba assured that the meeting would allow the Ijaw community to assess their role in the broader national context and consider their options for self-determination.
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