By Ben Adoga, Abuja
The Ijaw people of Rivers State have unequivocally declared their support and loyalty to the former Rivers State governor, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, stating that they are not an ungrateful people, as one of them has portrayed them.
The Ijaws in Rivers State said they saw how Wike supported them as governor and how he stood his ground against all odds to make an Ijaw man his successor.
Chairman of the Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress, Senator George Sekibo, announced the group’s decision during Wike’s “thank you” visit to Okrika Local Government Area of the state at the weekend.
Sekibo described the feud between Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, as “very unfortunate,” stressing, however, that the Ijaw people were not ungrateful.
He recalled how Wike supported the emergence of Fubara, an Ijaw son, as governor of Rivers State, and that the people across the state widely supported him because Wike presented him.
“Please don’t look at him and think we are all ungrateful people. Ijaw people are very grateful people.
“That is why we abandoned him (Fubara) and said we will follow you. You have done so much for the Ijaw people in Rivers. Whatever you say we should do, is what we will do,” he said.
Sekibo assured the minister of FCT of the Ijaw people’s support and pledged their complete loyalty to President Bola Tinubu.
“We are grateful people, and that is why we are following you. We will not leave you because you have been there for us,” he added.
The Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, in his remarks, thanked the people for their support and for standing firm with Tinubu.
He described Tinubu as a man who keeps his promises and urged the people of Okrika to continue supporting people of good character and trustworthiness.
The minister, who also visited the ‘Amanyanabo’ of Okochiri Kingdom, King Akete Tom, in his place, commended the traditional leader for keeping his people united.
He told the monarch that a decision had been made on the 2027 election, adding that his subjects would provide the details to him in due course.
He, however, appealed to the traditional ruler not to interfere with the upcoming political activities but to advise the people whenever they go wrong.
“It is not going to be business as usual. Allow us to play our game, and if there is any problem, call us to settle,” the minister said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of Okrika Local Government Council, Akuro Tobin, noted that Wike was indeed a “political godfather.”
Tobin also said Wike has supported many sons and daughters of the area to occupy various political offices, both elective and by appointment.
He assured the minister that the men, women and youths of the LGA were solidly behind him and Tinubu.
Speaking on behalf of Okrika women, Mrs Linda Stewart, Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, representing Okrika Constituency, said Wike’s support for women was unprecedented and prayed for his success in all his endeavours.
•State APC, Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress, others speak in ‘Thank You LGAs tour’
By Philip Yatai
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ahoada West Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers says it will follow the directives of Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, ahead of the 2027 general elections in the state.
Mr Rejoice Otobo, the Chairman of APC in the area, stated this during Wike’s “thank you” visit to the LGA on Sunday.
Otobo assured Wike that the people would not fail him because of the landmark achievements recorded in the LGA during his tenure as governor of the state.
“We await instructions from you on the 2027 elections. Wherever you ask us to go, there we shall go; whatever you ask us to do is what we will do.
“All the people of this LGA have decided that where you want us to go is where we will all go,” the Chairman said.
Similarly, his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Ikechukwu Obuzor, who thanked Wike for his developmental strides in Ahoada, also pledged complete loyalty to the Minister.
“I want to say that we are standing firm with you: wherever you go, we will go. Be assured that come 2027, Ahoada West will go with you in total,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the council, Mr Chita Eugene, who described Wike as “the political field marshal of South-South”, praised him for the laudable developments he has so far attracted to Rivers.
Eugene said that the visit was not just to thank the people, but a celebration of effective leadership and public service.
Also, Rep. Victor Obuzor (Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency) said that Wike deserves the support of the LGA, particularly by transforming Rivers during his tenure as governor.
Similarly, the Sheyi Tinubu Support Group, led by Chidi Amadi, equally pledged their support to Wike and the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu.
In his remarks, Wike explained that he was in the area to thank the people for the overwhelming support granted him and Tinubu during the 2023 elections.
He said that Rivers used to be respected for its strong political position on good governance across the country until bad governance happened.
The Minister, who stressed the need to restore Rivers’ glory in the country’s political landscape, insisted that this would only be achieved by correcting the existing leadership error in the state.
“Already, Rivers is being respected because of what we are doing in FCT. We need a leader we can be trusted to drive our dear state to glory and progress,” Wike said.
