By Peregba Jerry
The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide has expressed displeasure about perceived “political attacks” on Rivers State Governor Siminalaye Fubara.
In a statement circulated to reporters in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, its spokesman, Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, noted that Fubara is an Ijaw son, warning that the IYC would no longer tolerate moves to undermine the governor.
The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to order over his alleged involvement in the matter.
The statement also called on the Rivers State House of Assembly to “jettison whatever plot it is hatching against Fubara,” advising the lawmakers to rather work with the governor to bring peace and development to the state.
Asserting that Governor Fubara is “doing everything possible to reposition Rivers State on the global map of development, but has been attacked politically by his predecessor and some undemocratic elements in the state in recent times,” IYC stressed that the Ijaw in Rivers State are not “second-class citizens,” and would not “joke with Fubara’s governorship”, having waited 24 years, while supporting others, to lead the state.
“IYC will always stand to defend and support Governor Fubara, who has within six months into his administration as governor demonstrated a high level of productivity in the governance of Rivers State. He is handling the state better than he met it.
“We are particularly addressing the press today by calling on His Excellency, the former Governor of Rivers State and now Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Nyesom Wike, to steer clear from Fubara and his administration.
“The entire world knows how Wike administered Rivers State; he cannot claim God over Fubara. He should concentrate on his new office as Minister of FCT. He has done his best in Rivers State, hence he should allow others to do their best in the development of the state.
“It has become imperative we sound this note of warning to Wike because the Ijaw are tired of tolerating his continuous abusive and undermining shenanigans towards the Ijaw people of Nigeria, who have benevolently offered him nothing other than the name and fame he is enjoying politically today.
“He (Wike) started his onslaught on our traditional rulers in Rivers State by referring to them as ‘small boys’, ‘living fake lives’ and moved forward to abuse our revered Ijaw National Congress (INC) and Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) by asking thunder to fire them.
“We as a people will no longer tolerate his unprovoked display of hate and anger toward the Ijaw. It is our advice that Mr. Wike should jettison whatever plans he has to disrupt Fubara’s tenure as governor of Rivers State. Just the way others governed their tenures without any issue, Fubara should be allowed to rule his people peacefully.”
“It is not in the character of council to respond to everyone, but the misguided remarks of Wike against the Ijaw over time have reached a boiling point, hence our response. We are using this medium to caution Wike to respect the Ijaw anywhere in the world. Going forward, we will not accept such disrespectful comments from him,” the statement said.
It urged Governor Fubara to without delay “take full charge of the state.”
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