Rivers Crisis: Ijaw leaders warn ‘Abuja leader’, cohorts
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Prominent Ijaw leaders from the 12 Ijaw-speaking Local Government Areas of Rivers State have issued a stern warning to some individuals whom they described as ‘enemies of Rivers State’ to stop their nefarious activities aimed at distracting Governor Siminalayi Fubara from discharging his constitutional duties to the people of the state.
According to a press statement that was read on their behalf by Annkio Briggs, during a press conference, in Port Harcourt, on Friday, the Ijaw leaders, under the aegis of Rivers Ijaw Peoples Forum, advised these individuals to discard any instructions given by their ‘Abuja leader’, to destabilise the state.
The full statement has been published below:
PRESS RELEASE BY THE RIVERS IJAW PEOPLES FORUM (RIPF)
The Rivers Ijaw Peoples Forum is a Socio-Political group made up of Chiefs, Elders, Men,Women and Youths of the law ethnic nationality in Rivers State, political umbrella body of the twelve Ijaw Speaking Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
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In 2014, the Forum actively supported and deployed its abundant resources under the instrumentality and direction of our own, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Dame, Dr. Patience Jonathan to ensure the emergence of Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike as the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and further mobilised the ljaws in Rivers State to massively vote for the candidate in the 2015 governorship elections.
We repeated the same support in the 2019 elections and His Excellency, Chief Wike was returned for a second term as Governor of Rivers State. In 2023, we extended our winning support to the current Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminialayi Fubara.
It has come to our notice that some ijaw sons and daughters, at the direction of their Abuja leader, are clandestinely meeting with the sole aim of insulting and embarrassing our national and regional leaders who have in one way or the other expressed support and solidarity with the Governor of Rivers Staie, His Excellency Sir Siminialayi Fubara. We strongly advise that they desist forthwith from being willing tools in the hands of the enemies of Rivers State.We at this point categorically state:
(I). That we did not mandate or authorize any person or group of persons under this name, logo and any other Ijaw groupings to insult and embarrass the person and the office of the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, Chief Pa E. K. Clarke, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and other Ijaw leaders. Neither did we approve or authorize any form of disrespect to the political friends and allies of Ijaw ethnic nationality across the country.
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(II). That having spent our time and resources in supporting the administration of His Excellency, Nyesom Wike for eight years, we continue to maintain that this is not an ethnic crisis and shall refuse to play the ethnic card. We therefore object Ijaw sons and daughters accepting to be used as canon-fodders in the political upheaval.
(III). We congratulate His Excellency Sir Siminialavi Fubara. Governor of Rivers State for having meritoriously, carefully and prayerfully navigated the murky waters of Rivers State politics and successfully governed the State for one year and placed her on the path of peace and progress.
(IV). We thank all the indigenous ethnic nationalities of Rivers State and the non-indigenes that live and work in our beloved Rivers State for their unflinching support and prayers for the Governor.
(V). We also thank our national leader and father Chief Pa E. K. Clarke, and His Excellency, Sir (Dr.) Peter Odili for their immense support.
(VI). We must not forget the roles of Rivers women and youths. We also thank them for their support for the Governor of Rivers State.
(VII). On behalf of the all the Ijaw groups, within and outside Rivers State, we pledge our unalloyed and total support to the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminialayi Fubara.(VIII) We call on all people of goodwill of our dear State to continue to pray for and support His Excellency, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State.Thank you for listening and remain blessed.
Signed: 1. Annkio Briggs
2. Prof. Alaboyedia W. Obianimi
3. Warisenibo Alfred A. Allison
4. Chief Hon. David Briggs
5. Rt. Hon. Tamunosisi Gogo Jaja
