By Abiola Olawale
The Ijaw Elders Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a formal apology to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for the ongoing dispute between him and Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
This is as the elders urged Wike not to run away from the Ijaw people because of Fubara.
The group made this call at the Rivers State Ijaw Peoples Congress organised in honour of Wike in Rivers State on Saturday.
The group led by Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Boma Iyaye, said the Ijaw people were unhappy over the bitter back-and-forth public display of disregard for the minister by Fubara.
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.”
The Chairman of the Elders Forum, PDP Rivers State, Ferdinard Anabraba, also spoke to the matter, saying that the Ijaw nationality would not forget Wike.
He said: “The aberration we are seeing in the administration of Rivers State is only a demonstration of lack of political discharge of an individual, and by no means the opinion of Ijaw people.
“We, the Ijaw, see you as the light of Rivers State. You are indeed a notable strategist in the contemporary politics of Nigeria. And without doubt, you are the most celebrated Ijaw politician of national recognition.”
The New Diplomat reports that Rivers State has been in the news for over eight months over the cold war between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Wike.
While the reasons for the acrimony between the duo remain top secret, some insider sources said that Wike and Fubara had been purportedly battling for control of the oil-rich state’s resources and political machinery.
