The Rivers Ijaw People's Congress, RIPCO, has informed the Ijaw National Congress, INC, that Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, has demonstrated his love for the Ijaw nation, contrary to claims made by some in the wake of Rivers State's political crisis. The RIPCO, which led a team of its leaders to an important meeting with the Prof. Benjamin Okaba-led INC and the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, at Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, stated that the story that Wike despised the Ijaws was false.
He stated that out of love, Wike gave more federal positions he had lured to Rivers to Ijaw leaders, recalling that throughout his tenure as governor, he appointed Ijaw people to important positions. The delegation's leaders, Senator Alabo George Sekibo and Hon. Boma Iyaye, stated that the INC must remain impartial throughout the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. Sekibo claimed that even if the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, had disagreements with his benefactor, Wike, the governor had not informed the Ijaw nation of the reasons for their quarrel.
He said that the Rivers Ijaw People's Congress was interested in Ijaw unity and rancour-free collaborations with other ethnic nationalities in the state, recognising that without the cooperation of other ethnic groups in the state, the Ijaw, as a minority group in Rivers, would not win elections. He said, "Ijaws are minorities in Rivers State. We cannot win elections on our own. We need to collaborate with different nationalities in Rivers State.
Wike does not oppose Ijaw people, as some allege. Five of the nine federal positions he negotiated for Rivers State were handed to Ijaw leaders. "Fubara is the group's governor. We're not fighting him. However, we will continue to pray for him to gain wisdom. We suppose he is distracted.
