An Ijaw Socio-Cultural group, the Ijaw Nation Development Group (INDG), has accused former Rivers State governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike of being an ingrate over his recent comments where he disparaged the ethnic group.
The INDG, also known as the Ijaw People’s Assembly, in a statement on Saturday, said the statement where Wike allegedly called the Ijaw Nation a minority ethnic group was not only inflammatory but open disregard to the authority of the sitting Governor of state, Sim Fubara.
The INDG stressed that the Ijaw people played a pivotal role in the creation of the state as well as supporting Wike’s quest to be the governor, and they will not allow their contributions and sacrifices to be dismissed or disrespected.
The group noted that it was disheartening that Wike, who rose to power through the benevolence of Ijaws, is behind all the crisis in the state in his plots to make Fubara subservient and answerable to him alone.
In the statement jointly issued by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the INDG, Dennis Banigo and President Prof Prosper Ayawei, the group declared that the Ijaw stands united against the disrespect and provocation and unequivocally condemns the recent inflammatory remarks by Wike, which they claim did not only desecrate the dignity of the Ijaw Nation but also undermine the authority of the sitting governor.
“The Ijaw people, as the largest ethnic group in Rivers State with the highest number of Local Government Areas, cannot and will not be relegated to the background or regarded as a minority,” the INDG said.
“It is a historical fact that Ijaw Patriots played a pivotal role in the creation of Rivers State, and we will not allow our contributions and sacrifices to be dismissed or disrespected.
“It is particularly disheartening that Mr. Wike, who rose to power through the benevolence and support of the Ijaw people, has chosen to cast aspersions upon the very community that stood by him.
“Such actions are not only ungrateful but also divisive and unbecoming of a leader who once held the highest office in the state.
“We issue a strong warning to Mr. Wike to cease and desist from further careless altercations and inflammatory comments that have the potential to incite tribal conflict and disrupt the peace and harmony of Rivers State. The Ijaw Nation will not tolerate any attempt to sow discord or destabilize Rivers State.”
The group also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the unending crisis in the state and call Wike to order.
“Furthermore, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene and caution Mr. Wike against actions and rhetoric that could spark communal and political unrest capable of threatening the survival of Nigeria’s nascent democracy and economic prosperity.
“Leadership demands responsibility, and it is imperative that all public figures act with the utmost decorum and respect for the unity of our nation.
“The Ijaw Nation Development Group (INDG/IPA) remains steadfast in our commitment to fostering unity, promoting development, and safeguarding the rights and dignity of our people.
“We will continue to work tirelessly with the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and other well-meaning people and organizations to ensure that the Ijaw Nation and Rivers State thrive in peace, harmony, and prosperity.”