The Ijaw National Congress (INC), the apex body representing the Ijaw people, has distanced itself from a recent reception held in Port Harcourt in honor of Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The INC made it clear that no true Ijaw person would honor a traitor like Wike, who they accuse of betraying and unleashing hatred on the Ijaw nation.
In a statement signed by Chief Ibiosiya Nath Sukubo, the INC’s Publicity Secretary for the Eastern Zone, the group condemned Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, for his actions, asserting that the Ijaw people should dissociate from him. Sukubo emphasized that the group that organized the reception for Wike consisted only of his political allies, who do not represent the Ijaw people.
“We have the Ijaw National Congress (INC) as our voice and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) as our dynamic youth wing. Anything outside these organizations does not speak for the Ijaw people,” Sukubo stated.
Sukubo further argued that Wike has refused to apologize to the Ijaw people, despite being urged to do so by the INC, and has instead sown discord. “No true son or daughter of Ijaw will honor Wike, who has sworn to cause harm to the Ijaw people. Those honoring him are doing it purely for their own benefit,” he added.
The INC also expressed disappointment in Wike’s failure to show gratitude to the Ijaw people, who were instrumental in his rise to power, both as governor and minister. “Wike should be grateful to Sir Sim and the Ijaw people for the support that led to his success. Today, he is torn between two political parties—APC and PDP.”
Instead of celebrating Wike, the INC said it would honor true Ikwerre heroes, such as Prof. G. O. M. Tasie and Dr. Obi Wali, who were once allied with the Ijaw struggle, rather than someone who has vilified and terrorized their community. Sukubo also criticized Wike for his blatant disrespect toward Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark.
He concluded by dismissing any suggestion that the Ijaw should apologize to Wike, calling such notions absurd. “It is Wike who owes Sim and the Ijaws an apology. This entire exercise is merely an attempt to whitewash his image in the eyes of the Ijaw people.”
