From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The apex pressure group of the Ijaw nation, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has rallied support for the embattled governor of Rivers State, Mr Sim Fubara.
Accordingly, the INC has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike to back down from the impeachment plot against the Fubara.
The INC in a statement titled ‘’ Rivers Crisis: Let Governor Siminalayi Fubara Be’’ by its national president, Prof Benjamin Okaba condemned the crisis that engulfed Rivers State over moves to allegedly impeach Fubara.
Okaba implored Tinubu to prevail on Wike to sheath his sword to ensure peace returns to the state and support Fubara to succeed, expressed disappointment with the position of Rivers State Elders on the crisis maintained that the Ijaw nation was standing behind Fubara because he has not committed any crime.
‘’ We call on Mr President not to relent in his well-calculated effort to prevail on his cabinet member, Mr Wike, to sheath his sword unconditionally and support his own beloved godson to succeed. This is because political instability in any state could be a source of distraction for your administration.”
‘’The Ijaw nation remains profusely grateful to Mr Wike for making our son Governor of Rivers State. However, it might be necessary to state for the records that Mr. Wike enjoyed love and political benevolence from an Ijaw son, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who appointed him as a minister and later aided him in being governor of Rivers State.
‘’His (Wike’s) godson, Siminalayi Fubara also served him in several strategic capacities as a very loyal and diligent confidant. As a faithful laborer, he deserves Mr. Wike’s reward by way of support and providing the enabling environment to function properly and maximally as the sitting governor of the state.
“At this juncture, we wish to re-emphasize that our support for the current governor is solid and total. We can’t be distracted by characters that demand that he jettison the courageous battle he has started well
‘’They may wish to tell Nigerians what crime Fubara has committed against Rivers people outside his genuine desire to manage the commonwealth of the state.
“As crucial stakeholders in the Rivers State project where the Ijaws remain predominant in 13 out of the 23 local government areas, we must join other ethnic groups in championing the cause of ensuring that due diligence, peace, and fair play prevail and that no man should play god in the affairs of men.”