The Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress has shifted its allegiance from the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The chairman of the congress, Senator George Sekibo, announced the development during Wike’s “thank you” visit to Okrika Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
According to Sekibo, the group decided to abandon Fubara and follow Wike because he has done so much for the Ijaw people.
The Senator described the feud between Fubara and Wike as “very unfortunate”, stressing that the Ijaw people were not ungrateful.
The Ijaw Congress chairman recalled with nostalgia how Wike supported the emergence of Fubara, an Ijaw son, as governor of Rivers State.
“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.
The chairman of Okrika Local Government Council, Akuro Tobin, who described Wike as his “political godfather”, added that the minister equally supported many sons and daughters of the area to occupy various political offices, both elective and appointed.
He assured Wike that men, women and youths of Okrika LGA are solidly behind him and Tinubu.
In turn, the FCT Minister thanked the people for their support and for standing firm with Tinubu.
Wike described Tinubu as a man who keeps his promises and urged the people of Okrika to continue supporting those with good and trusted character.