Rivers Ijaw Group Criticises INC President Over Wike, Fubara Feud
The Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress (RIPCO) has publicly expressed disappointment and concern over the actions of Professor Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), regarding the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
The organisation’s leaders, Senator George Thompson Sekibo, Director-General, Dr. Rowland Sekibo, and Secretary, Dr. Erastus Awortu, co-signed an open letter disputing Okaba’s claims that the Presidential peace accord favored Wike, yet Fubara fulfilled all conditions for peace within the agreement
According to the statement released by RIPCO, the organization said it had sent a delegation to the INC headquarters in June 2024, urging Okaba to intervene and broker peace between Governor Siminialayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The delegation, comprising 200 Ijaw sons and daughters, was led by Senator George Thompson Sekibo.
During the meeting, Okaba acknowledged the need for intervention and committed to undertaking a peace mission in Rivers State. He promised to lead an INC delegation to meet with all factions involved and convene a roundtable discussion between Fubara and Wike.
However, RIPCO alleged that Okaba failed to follow through on his promises. Instead, he issued a public statement condemning Wike and praising Fubara, which RIPCO views as a betrayal of his neutral position and a miscarriage of justice.
“We cautioned that if the INC took sides, it could lead to open conflict within the Ijaw community.
“Okaba’s premature condemnation of one party and open support of another undermine the principles of justice and fairness that the Ijaw people have always upheld,” the statement reads.
The organisation emphasized that the Ijaw people have long been known for their impartiality and commitment to fairness in handling disputes, regardless of the individuals involved.
They insisted on its call for fairness and unity, urging stakeholders to disregard Okaba’s baseless claims and prioritize lasting peace in Rivers State.
“We expect Professor Okaba and the INC leadership to guide themselves as statesmen in their conduct and utterances to uphold the unity, peace, and cohesiveness of the Ijaw people wherever they are found, particularly in Rivers State,” they stated.
However, the INC had previously warned that the crisis poses a threat to Nigeria’s democracy. Other Ijaw groups have also distanced themselves from RIPCO’s actions, labeling them as self-serving maneuvers to curry favour with Minister Wike.
Rivers Ijaw Group Criticises INC President Over Wike, Fubara Feud is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
