By Suoyo Ekubo
The leadership of the umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has described as insulting and unacceptable Governor Nyesom Wike’s attack on the Ijaw community in Rivers state following Farah Dagogo’s arrest.
Governor Wike had on Sunday during a church service launched an attack on the Ijaw ethnic nationality following the controversy over the arrest of a federal lawmaker, Hon. Farah Dagogo and the 48hours ultimatum issued for his immediate release.
The IYC in a statement reacting to the derogatory use of “Thunder Fire You” by the Rivers Governor described the comment as disturbing, inciting, and denigrating of the high office he occupies.
The IYC leadership, through its National Spokesman, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe, noted that such tactless and disrespectful comment by Governor Wike was the height of his prolonged disdain for the Ijaw nation as a whole and Rivers Ijaw people in particular since he became governor of the state.
The IYC said its only sin that attracted Wike’s wrath was its demand alongside its parent organ, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) for the release of an Ijaw son, Hon. Farah Dagogo, who was arrested and remanded in prison on the orders of the Rivers governor.
The statement further stated that Wike should be reminded that such unguarded and incendiary comments are capable of rupturing the existing good relationship with the Ikwerres, and his kinsmen are advised to call him to order.
The IYC also reminded Governor Wike that power is transient and that by May 29, 2023, he will vacate the exalted governorship seat, that he has equally ridiculed, to become an ordinary citizen like others in Rivers State and Nigeria.
The statement partly reads: “Wike has forgotten that by calling fire and thunder on the Ijaw nation, his benefactor and our revered leader, former President Goodluck Jonathan, is an illustrious Ijaw son.
“This “thunder” did not fire the former president when, despite all odds, he made him the choice of the Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers State against the wishes of other competent Ijaw aspirants in the state.
“Now, Jonathan as an Ijaw man is also under fire from Governor Wike. For him, all those that made him, including the people of Rivers State, are in his pocket and can be insulted at will.
“We, therefore, call on our people as a whole to see Governor Wike as an enemy of the Ijaw Nation. We urge Ijaws all over the world to speak against this tyrannical behaviour of Wike.
“We also call on our Ijaw brothers that are delegated in his party not to cast their votes for him during the presidential primaries as this will be viewed as a betrayal of our heritage. Suffice it to say that if a governor can cast aspersion on an entire ethnic nationality, what would become of him as president of the most populous black nation on the planet?”
