Rivers: Ijaws Tackle Wike For ‘stocking Division’, Rift With Fubara

Amidst the ongoing rift between a former governor of Rivers state, Nyeson Wike and Governor Siminalaye of Rivers state, a group in the state has called on the former governor to allow peace reign.

The Ijaw National Congress, INC, appealed to the fighting parties to priotise the interest of the people of the state.

Wike and Fubara were allies until recently when they decided to go their separate ways.

As the quarrel ensued, the former governor last week described Fubara as an ingrate while the governor blasted his predecessor for questioning his ancestry as an Ijaw man, calling him ignorant.

Wike now the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, was instrumental to Fubara’s emergence as governor of the oil-rich state.

The INC in a statement has however called on the minister to pursue peace with his successor by retracing “his steps from a stoking division of any sort against the government of the day”.

The group urged Wike to stop disrespecting the image and office of the governor.

The statement issued by Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said, “We specifically appeal to Chief Nyesom Wike to retrace his steps from a stoking division of any sort against the government of the day under the guise of protecting his ‘structure’.

“The political structure to which he refers should not be rolled up with the structure of the government of Governor Fubara as one entity under anyone’s thumb.

“On our part, the Ijaw National Congress worldwide, at all levels and organs across Ijawland and the diaspora should be alive to the sacred responsibility of watching over and protecting the interests of our people anywhere and anytime.”

The rift between the two former political associates first emerged on October 30 after the governor quashed an impeachment plot against him by some lawmakers loyal to Wike.

The disagreement has since worsened as efforts by some prominent leaders in the country, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have failed.