The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Elders Forum has apologised to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike “for what Fubara is doing to you”.
They apologised to Wike on Saturday at the Rivers State Ijaw Peoples Congress.
The elders, led by the Executive Director of Finance, NDDC, Boma Iyaye, said the Ijaw people were sorry for the bitter back-and-forth and disregard for the minister by the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Recall that the state has been in a year-long political crisis since Wike, now the FCT Minister, and Fubara, his successor as governor, fell out.
President Bola Tinubu and other prominent Nigerians have intervened to no avail.
The elders said: “On behalf of our people, we are apologising to you for what our son is doing to you. We are sorry. We are sorry o, because it is not in our nature to pay evil for good. You have done well for us, and we will continue to say, thank you.
“Your excellency, do not because of this bad behaviour of our son, run away from us. Continue to be our brother. Continue to have us in mind.
“We have never set our feet on the number one seat of Rivers State. You made it possible for us to become the governor of Rivers State.”
Also recall that two weeks ago, Wike declared in an interview with Channels TV: “I will never support Fubara in my political life again. Anybody knows me; it’s not about me.
“People laboured to put up a structure. People laboured; you wouldn’t have even taken the 50th position. I sacrificed to talk to the Ogonis; I sacrificed to talk to several other people who let us go this way.
“You turned it; that I am asking for N50 billion, N100 billion. You turned up lies against me; I brought you up and put you here. Today, I turned out to be overdemanding.
“What is Wike demanding? In every politics or political family, you run elections under people, and people work together. We must have to keep our political structure.”
Jonathan, Clark
Among the personalities that have reacted to the feud are former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and South-South Leader, Chief Edwin Clark.
Jonathan said: “Transition in Nigeria is becoming a problem. At the centre, presidents have taken over from presidents. There are always issues. But at the state level, it is becoming noisy and I feel that that is not the best.
“In the case of Rivers, Honourable Minister Nyesom Wike and Governor Sim Fubara must work together to develop the land and people of Rivers State. The tension will not help us.
“So, I urge political actors; you must work together if you love the Rivers people. I join the leaders of Rivers State and the well-meaning Nigerians that have been calling for truce and ceasefire, to also re-emphasise that there is a need for a ceasefire.”
‘Stay in Abuja’
For Clark, Wike should face his job as FCT minister, and allow Fubara to govern the state.
He said: “He wrote about Peter Odili but later he said that if he does anything against Odili, God should kill him. Then, Amaechi made him Chief of Staff. When he quarrelled with him, Ameachi recommended him to be appointed minister, and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo agreed.
“But what happened? One day, we had the approval of the Presidency to tell the security people; as he got five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly – I have their names here – to impeach the Speaker, one Otelemaba Amachreee.
“Then to later impeach, the governor, Rotimi Amaechi. There was a free-for-all fight. The mace was broken. One of the members called Chidi had to be flown abroad for treatment.
“Amaechi then closed the House of Assembly for one year. So that’s Wike’s work. Politics of madness in Rivers State was started by Wike and Amaechi. They don’t care about other people. So, Wike should remain in Abuja to do his job. Let the young man (Fubara) rule his place.
“People said Wike made Fubara governor, yes, that is true. The man has acknowledged it. But he says, I can’t worship a human being; I will worship God to show appreciation. But Wike said that worship God through me. The man said no. That is the problem they have.”
