The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that he is proud to have made an Ijaw man the governor of Rivers State.
He further explained that after the old Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is the first governor of the state from Ijaw ethnic nationality, which was made possible through his (Wike) effort.
Wike spoke at an event organised by the Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress in his honour in Port Harcourt, on Saturday.
Also, the FCT minister stressed that God used him to make Siminalayi Fubara the governor of Rivers State, asking who his successor has made.
Wike also used the occasion to debunk allegations on social media that the Ijaw people in the state are fighting him.
He said, “Let me thank this team for this strategic meeting here today. First of all, when I was approached by Senator Thompson Sekibo. He was sent by the Rivers Ijaw Congress that they want to honour me.
“I asked what the essence of such was. Why do you want to waste such money? I need the money. Give it to me. But he said so many people go on television and speak as if they were speaking on behalf of the Ijaw people. I said okay, I will come and let Nigerians know.
“This gathering here today is a message to those of them in Abuja who don’t understand. So, if anybody tells you one day that the Ijaw people are fighting me. It is not correct.
“We have some ungrateful people everywhere. A father can have 12 children, and one can be an armed robber. Does that mean that the whole family are armed robbers?
“This gathering here today is a message to those of them in Abuja who don’t understand. So if anybody tells you one day that the Ijaw people are fighting me. It is not correct. We have some ungrateful people everywhere. A father can have twelve children, and one can be an armed robber. Does that mean that the whole family are armed robbers?
“So, all these people going to television to say Ijaw people are fighting me. Ask them; all the Ijaw people in the House of Assembly were positioned.”
The former River governor asserted that nobody has the monopoly of causing violence, stressing that he and his camp have chosen to play according to the rule of law.
He added, “Who has Fubara made? All the things you see are people who are envious of our growth. They couldn’t do what we are doing today. These are people who we have defeated politically several times. If the opportunity comes again, we will defeat them again.
“I have made an Ijaw man governor of Rivers State. God used us. All of us here had sleepless nights. So, who loves Ijaw more? Is it people who come out on television who cannot even make their Ijaw brother governor? If they had been that powerful since the old Rivers State, would Ijaw have ever become governor? Where are they?
“I have told people that nobody has a monopoly on causing violence. The mere fact that we choose to play according to the rule of law; to be calm and not to turn ourselves into where investors would run away, and that is what we will continue to do.”
Speaking further, Wike declared that very soon, he would tell you the next line of action, adding that his detractors can’t fight me, because all of them put together can’t stand him.
The FCT minister challenged the those opposing him in Rivers State to keep their party ready, saying
at the appropriate time, they would be taught politics.
He taunted those Ijaw people on supporting his successor, that they are there for their stomach, adding that they would still come back.
The former governor warned that nobody should push him to the wall, saying that some people are shameless.
Meanwhile, the Ijaw ethnic nationality under the auspices of Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress (RIPCO) has apologized to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the misdeeds of the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara.
Speaking through the Director, Finance and Administration, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Boma Iyaye, Rivers Ijaw openly apologized to Wike and told him to disregard the misbehaviour of an individual and continue to relate with the Ijaw people.
Iyaye, who made a special presentation superlatively said sorry to Wike and begged him not to judge the Ijaws on Rivers through the behaviour of one person.
He said: “I want to apologize to you for what our son is doing to you. We are sorry. It is not in our nature to pay good with evil. Don’t because of this bad behavior and run away from us.
“Continue to be our brother. It is not because we fail exam we won’t repeat it again. We are not ungrateful people. That is why we are celebrating you”.
The stakeholders spoke in unison during a civic reception they organized at Amadi-Ama, Abuloma, Okirika Local Government Area of the state to honour the Minister.
The reception attracted Ijaw leaders, traditional rulers, politicians among others from Ijaw dominated local government areas of Rivers.
All known Ijaw cultural dance troupes and wrestling groups were in display to welcome Wike, whom they said Ijaw would eternally remain grateful to for producing from among them a governor and influencing the appointments of their sons and daughters at the federal level.
The FCT Minister was accompanied to the event by the Petroleum Minister, State, Heineken Lokpobiri; Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; former governors and members of the G5, Samuel Ortom, Benue; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu and Okezie Ikpeazu, among others.
