“We Are Sorry”, Ijaw Elders Apologize To Wike Over  Fubara

By Akinwale Kasali

As the feud between Nyesom Wike,  Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. FCT and Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State continue to escalate, some  Ijaw Elders have apologized to Wike.

The Elders apologized to Wike on Saturday when they hosted Wike to a reception in Rivers State on Saturday.

Wike, the immediate past Governor of Rivers State and his successor in office, Siminalayi Fubara, have been embroiled in a bitter political crisis which began barely three months into Fubara’s tenure.

It was Wike who greatly was instrumental to Fubara becoming the Governor but they soon fell apart over the control of the State. That had led to an aborted impeachment of Fubara, and since then nothing has been the same. Both men are at each others neck. And, inspite of the support for Fubara by most of his colleague-PDP Governors, Wike has continued, with the surprise support of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to hold unto the party structure in the State. Fubara seems on his way out of the Party as his loyalists and appointees are contesting the upcoming Local Council Polls in the State on the ticket of another Party, APP.

But at the reception in honour of Wike by the Ijaw, they praised and thanked Wike to high heavens for making an Ijaw son (Fubara) a Governor. They said they were very grateful to him for making that happen in the history of Rivers State.

Speaking on the feud between Wike and Fubara, the Elders begged Wike to forgive Fubara. They urged him to sheath his sword and forgive Fubara who they kept referring to as “his political son.”

The Ijaw Elders organised the reception under the auspices of Ijaw Elders Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. They condemned Fubara and said the attitude of Governor Fubara has been unpalatable and “insensitive”.

The group said Wike has been good to the Ijaw people of Rivers State.

Speaking on behalf of the Group, the Executive Director Of Finance, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Boma Iyaye,  said Ijaw people “are sorry for Governor Fubara’s behaviour.

He said nobody from the Ijaw people of Rivers State had ever risen to the position of Governor in the state until Wike made it possible through Fubara.

Iyaye said Wike has done well for them and they will continue to say “thank you”.

He said, “On behalf of our people, we are apologising to you for what our son is doing to you. We are sorry. We are sorry o because it is not in our nature to pay evil for good. You have done well for us, and we will continue to say, thank you.

“Your Excellency, do not because of this bad behaviour of our son run away from us. Continue to be our brother. Continue to have us in mind.

“We have never set our feet on the number one seat of Rivers State. You made it possible for us to become the governor of Rivers State.”