In Defence Of Dickson And Other Ijaw Elders Who Embarked On Asolidarity Visit To Governor Sim Fubara Of Rivers State: Putting The Facts Straight

MY brother and friend Mr. Deme Ataribo Ayawari has attributed the visit of Dickson and other Ijaw leaders to Rivers State as the cause of the polarization of the Rivers State House of Assembly, adding that the peace Tinubu brokered has been violated. This is ludicrous and no less absurd. Let me succinctly State the facts here and now.

1. It is true that President Tinubu brokered peace between the FCT Minister, Barr. Wike and Governor Sim FUBARA, the true was like the DIKTAT Germany was subjected to sr the Versailles after World War I. Nigeria operates a constitutional democracy, where the resolution of any conflict should make recourse to the constitution and the rule of law. Let's allow the court to decide.

2. The legislative organ of Rivers State was divided two months after Governor SIM FUBARA assumed office. The cause of the imbroglio is very obvious. It was the high-handedness of Barr. Nyesom Wike and his bid to control the Treasury of Rivers State that caused the factionalization of the Assembly and Fubara's Cabinet. It is important to remember that 90% of Fubara's Cabinet members was forcefully imposed on FUBARA by the generalissimo of Ikwerre politics.

3. The emergence of a new Speaker was sequel to the defection of 27 lawmakers from the PDP to the APC, which is a breach of the Electoral Act of 2022 as amended. The defection of the law makers took place when there was no crisis within the PDP hence it is being contested in court that their positions be declared vacant. The excesses of the 27 law makers has threatened the internal democracy of the PDP and should be punished. All along, it is Wike who has been instigating crisis in Rivers State because of egocentrism.

4. The visit of Dickson, King A P.Diete-Spiff( Ist Military Governor of Rivers State) and other Ijaw & opinion leaders was not out of order. They visited Rivers State to show solidarity with Sim FUBARA who is an Ijaw leader too. The solidarity visit was necessary because of the maltreatment and harassment of the incumbent governor of Rivers State by the FCT Minister - the Capone of Ikwerre supremacist politics. In all of this, Governor Douye Diri was never in the picture. In fact, at the time of the visit, Diri was receiving an award in the United States of America.

5. Whereas, a governor reserves the right to appoint the people he works with, I have also raised the issue of Diri's marginalization of Yenagoa, Nembe Brass and Ogbia in key appointments, I have severally appealed and still appealing to Governor Douye Diri to balance his appointments. By the way, there are several key appointments that have not been made. It is too early in the day to crucify Diri on the altar of sectionalism. It is sad that the insertion of the Core-Ijaw propaganda is not only mischievous but diversionary. The core-Ijaw, non-core Ijaw postulation is a myth we should all shun. This wrong perception must stop.

We Ijaws cannot abandon Governor Sim Joseph FUBARA to be masticated by a mindless, egocentric, narcissistic politician who has elevated himself to the level of deity. The Ijaws are courageous and fearless people whose sworn affidavit is to defend their kith and kin irrespective of geography.

It was for this sole purpose that the Ijaw National Congress, INC was formed. WE should not play politics when the collective interest of the Ijaw nation is at stake. Why do we take delight is persecuting our prophets? At this point in history, the Ijaws must strengthen their resolve, determined and focused in pursuit of their collective interest within the context of our socio-economic and political realities in Nigeria. We cannot abdicate this historic responsibility.