••• URGES IJAW DELEGATES TO VITE AGAINST HIM
The Ijaw Youths Council has called on Ijaws across the country to treat the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as an enemy of the Ijaw Nation.
The umbrella youth organization of the Ijaws also called on all delegates from across Ijaw land not to vote for Wike in the forthcoming primaries of the People’s Democratic Party.
The Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Ebilade Ekerefe, made the call while reacting to a statement by Wike who is deriding manner invoked “thunder to fire” the leaderships of the Ijaw National Congress and the Ijaw Youth Council for demanding the release of detained House of Reps member, Darah Dagogo.
Ekerefe wondered what would become of the Rivers Governor if elected President if he could hurl insults at an entire ethnic nationality like the Ijaw in the country.
In responding to the demand of the INC to release Dagogo in 48 hours Wike had poured invectives on the two umbrella bodies of the Ijaw nation on Sunday, the IYC and the INC.
“That brings us to where some people say We are Ijaw Youths Congress, We are Ijaw National Congress, you are wasting your time. I am not, I don’t even know why some people don’t know who they are dealing with. Me? Threaten me, 48 hours!
“Instead of them to come to government. What is the problem? What happened? You come to threaten government with ultimatum. Thunder Fire you and ultimatum! “ He had bragged.
But the IYC Spokesman said on Tuesday said that Wike’s attack on the Ijaw ethnic nationality disturbing, reprehensible, insulting and unacceptable.
Ekerefe stated further Wike’s outburst was tactless and disrespectful and a indeed showed his age ong disdain for the Ijaw Nation.
The full IYC statement:
“The leadership of the umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has described as insulting and totally unacceptable Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike’s attack on the Ijaw ethnic nationality following the controversy over the arrest of a federal lawmaker, Hon. Farah Dagogo.
“The IYC views Governor Wike’s “Thunder Fire You” comment as disturbing, inciting and denigrating of the high office he occupies.
“The IYC leadership notes that such tactless and disrespectful comment by Governor Wike was the height of his prolonged disdain for the Ijaw nation as a whole and Rivers Ijaw people in particular since he became governor of the state.
“It is even more shocking that the Rivers Governor took his unrestrained verbiage to the hallowed pulpit of a church and desecrated the altar of God.
“The IYC restates that its only ‘sin’ that attracted Wike’s ire was its demand alongside its parent organ, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), for the release of an Ijaw son, Hon. Farah Dagogo, that was arrested and remanded in prison on the orders of the Rivers governor.
“Despite being the fourth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria and the largest in the Niger Delta, the Ijaws have consistently promoted peaceful and harmonious relationships with other ethnic groups, including Wike’s Ikwerre nationality in Rivers State. However, Wike should be reminded that such unguarded and incendiary comments are capable of rupturing the existing good relationship with the Ikwerres, and his kinsmen are advised to call him to order.
“The IYC also reminds Governor Wike that power is transient and that by May 29, 2023, he will vacate the exalted governorship seat, that he has equally ridiculed, to become an ordinary citizen like others in Rivers State and Nigeria.
“Wike has forgotten that by calling fire and thunder on the Ijaw nation, his benefactor and our revered leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan, is an illustrious Ijaw son.
“This “thunder” did not fire the former President when, despite all odds, he made him the choice of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State against the wishes of other competent Ijaw aspirants in the state.
“Now, Jonathan as an Ijaw man, is also under fire from Governor Wike. For him, all those that made him, including the people of Rivers State, are in his pocket and can be insulted at will.
“We, therefore, call on our people as a whole to see Governor Wike as an enemy of the Ijaw Nation. We urge Ijaws all over the world to speak against this tyrannical behaviour of Wike.
“We also call on our Ijaw brothers that are delegates in his party not to cast their votes for him during the presidential primaries as this will be viewed as betrayal of our heritage. Suffice it to say that if a governor can cast aspersion on an entire ethnic nationality, what would become of him as president of the most populous black nation on the planet?”
