By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, defied threats and protests and stormed Ijawland for a reception organised in his honour by a group loyal to him on Saturday.
This is as the Ijaw Peoples Assembly, IPA ,on same Saturday, March 15, 2025, said the description of Ijaws as a minority group in the Niger Delta by Wike ,does not only tantamount to demeaning and desecrating the self worth of the people, but also a direct assault on the authority of the person and office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara
The Source reports that Wike,who is currently waging a proxy war against his erstwhile protege ,Governor Fubara, through the Martins Amaewfule-led State House of Assembly on Thursday March ,13 ,while on a national television interview poured some unprintable invectives on the Rivers state Governor and his Ijaw ethnic nationality for daring to threaten hell on earth should Fubara be impeached.
He described the Ijaw group as a an inconsequential minority in the political demography of the Niger Delta region except in Bayelsa state.
However, in a statement on Saturday in Port Harcourt, jointly issued by Dennis Banigo,and Prof. Prosper Ayawei, Chairman, and Secretary, Board of Trustees, BoT President respectively, the IPA ,stated that the Ijaw people are the largest ethnic nationality in Rivers state .
According to them, Ijaws also have the highest number of Local Councils ,warning that they would not be cowed or be relegated to the background in the scheme of things in the State .
The IPA recalled that the Ijaw nation through the instrumentalities of Ijaw Patriots ,played a pivotal re in the creation of Rivers state, and therefore will not allow their pre-eminent position and sacrifices to be undermined by anybody or group of persons.
” It is particularly disheartening that Mr Wike who rose to power through the benevolence and support of the Ijaw people, has chosen to cast aspersions on the very ethnic nationality that stood by him.
“Such actions are not only ungrateful, but also divisive and unbecoming of a leader who once held the highest office in the State .
“We issue a strong warning to Wike to cease and desist from further careless altercations and inflammatory comments that have the potentials to incite tribal conflicts and disrupt the peace and harmony of Rivers state .
“The Ijaw nation will not tolerate any attempt to sow discord or destabilize Rivers State.
“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene and caution Mr Wike against actions and rhetorics that could spark communal and political unrest capable of threatening the survival of Nigeria’s nascent democracy and economic prosperity.
“Leadership demands responsibility ,and it is imperative that all public figures act with the utmost decorum and respect for the unity of our nation .
“The Ijaw Nation Development Group/ Ijaw Peoples Assembly remains steadfast in our commitment to fostering unity ,promoting development and safeguarding the rights and dignity of our people.
“We will continue to work tirelessly with the Ijaw National Congress, INC, and other well meaning people and organizations to ensure that the Ijaw nation and Rivers state thrive in peace ,harmony and prosperity”, part of the statement reads.
Meanwhile hundreds of women from Abalama Kalabari in Asari Tolu Council, Saturday morning, barricaded all major roads to and from the Kingdom in protest against the planned thanksgiving service by Wike in the area .
On Friday ,March 14, the traditional ruler of the area His Royal Majesty, Big Tom-Tom, had, in a public message appealed to the organizers of the event to put it off ,citing the charged atmosphere as a major reason .
The Royal Father noted that his community will not accept any political gathering at this critical and challenging situation in the life of Rivers state .
However, the insistence of the organizers to go ahead with the event ,prompted the women to block the roads ,while also demanding that the thanksgiving be taken out of Kalabari .
The women who were all dressed in black attire are said to be highly incensed by the statement credited to Wike, to the effect that Kalabari/Ijaw are in the minority in Rivers state .
They were, however, dispersed by the scores of Security Details who accompanied Wike to the ceremony.
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