* Ask Edwin Clark to leave Wike alone
Amid the political crisis rocking Rivers State, stakeholders from the Ogoni and Oyigbo ethnic extraction have resolved to produce the replacement of Governor Siminialayi Fubara in 2027.
Their meeting, which held under the auspices of Ogoni/Oyigbo Peoples Assembly at Tai, had prominent politicians across party lines including Senator Barinada Mpigi, Senator Magnus Abe, Amb. Desmond Akawor, and Chief Victor Giadom among others in attendance.
They resolved that the two ethnic nationalities, which fall under the same Senatorial District, must remain united to produce Fubara’s replacement in 2027.
As part of their resolution after the meeting, they called on major parties to consider Ogoni/Oyigbo for governorship, as most of the leaders took their turns to condemn some of the actions of the governor.
The leaders commended Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for uniting Ogoni and Oyigbo politically, calling on President Bola Tinubu to prepare for a second term in 2027.
Reading their communique after the meeting, Senator Mpigi said: “The Ogoni and Oyigbo Peoples Assembly express gratitude to God Almighty for a successful assembly, loyalty, gratitude and support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We also affirm complete faith, loyalty and commendation to the Minister of the FCT, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike not only as our leader in Rivers State but as the extraordinary unparalleled achiever in public service both as governor of Rivers State and as minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“This Peoples Assembly as an organisation will educate itself along the lines of sister organisations such as Kagote, Mosop, Ofalaru’ Eleme, Asa/Ndoki progressives, etc for the pursuit of our political and economic freedom and advancement.
“This Assembly recalls that at the end of the tenure of Nyesom Wike as governor, he directed that his successor should come from the Rivers South East Senatorial District. This was indeed the right thing to do as it was the only senatorial district that is yet to produce governor of Rivers State since its creation.
“He chose Sim Fubara of Opobo as governor despite it being the smallest LGA in the district. In our usual loyalty for the party’s position and the decision of our leader, we allowed it to pull through.
“The battle to secure victory for Sim Fubara was difficult as he was seen as non-Ijaw, semi-Ijaw. It is ironic but we accept the fact that those who opposed and voted against him Sim Fubara that he is unworthy and unfit are today his friends while those of us who worked tirelessly for his hard earned victory under the leadership of the FCT Minister are now and ever his worst enemies.”
The Assembly told Chief Edwin Clark that the Ogoni and Oyigbo people are totally committed to anything that has to do with the Minister of the FCT, warning that he should stop attacking the minister because he did not support Fubara at the initial stage.
“The years the leaders of Rivers State have tried to unite our people in spite of our ethnic fault lines but no one more than Clark sees anything outside Ijaw.
“He criticized Fubara as not Ijaw at night but once the problem between the Gov. Fubara and Minister Wike started, Fubara suddenly became an acceptable Ijaw to Clark. For Clark the interest of other ethnic groups doesn’t matter but only the Ijaws.
“It is important to mention that we are the Ogonis and Oyigbos and we are one of the largest ethnic groups in Rivers State, perhaps second or the most outstanding after the Ikwerres. We voted for an Ijaw man to be governor only to be condemned by this Ijaw Leader.
“We are asking Chief Clark to most respectfully withdraw any form of hatred and insulting words against our leader and Minister of the FCT immediately. We have out of respect for his age and person restrained ourselves from joining issues with him.
“There are issues in Delta his home State that require his attention. His obsession and rudeness in Rivers State affairs has divided us and cut us apart and kind of consciously threatening our peace.
“Please, this is good enough time for him to put his energies on his legacy and attend to his unfatherly behaviour. His ignoble act has spurred characters like Hon. Ugochinyere Imo and Chief Dan Anyanwu among others.
“These individuals are conflict merchants and rent seekers with no roles in their own states. Their easy or leased access to Rivers State resources has made intrusion into our affairs irresistible.