The Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress has formally withdrawn its support for Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and declared its allegiance to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, marking a significant political realignment in the state.
The decision was announced on Saturday in Okrika Local Government Area during Wike’s “thank you” tour of the area. The chairman of the congress, George Sekibo, made the declaration publicly, describing the ongoing political dispute between Governor Fubara and Wike as regrettable but stressing that the Ijaw people remain appreciative of Wike’s past actions.
Sekibo said the Ijaw community could not ignore the role Wike played in Fubara’s emergence as governor. He noted that Wike was instrumental in supporting Fubara, an Ijaw indigene, to secure the governorship with broad backing across Rivers State.
According to him, the decision to shift allegiance was driven by gratitude rather than hostility. He urged Wike not to judge the entire Ijaw ethnic group by the current disagreement with the governor, insisting that the community values loyalty and appreciation.
Sekibo stated that the congress had resolved to abandon Governor Fubara politically and align fully with Wike. He said the group was prepared to follow Wike’s political direction, citing his contributions to the Ijaw people in Rivers State as the basis for their support.
He also pledged the group’s loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, describing both leaders as deserving of continued backing. Sekibo said the Ijaw people would stand by Wike, stressing that their support would not waver because of his long-standing support for the community.
The chairman of Okrika Local Government Area, Akuro Tobin, also spoke at the event and described Wike as his political godfather. Tobin credited Wike with helping many people from Okrika secure elective and appointed positions at various levels of government.
Tobin assured the minister that the people of Okrika, including men, women and youths, were firmly behind him and President Tinubu. He said the area remained grateful for Wike’s influence and political backing over the years.
Speaking on behalf of women in Okrika, the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Linda Stewart, praised Wike for what she described as unprecedented empowerment of women during his time in office. She offered prayers for his continued success and acknowledged his impact on women’s participation in governance.
In his response, Wike thanked the people of Okrika for their support and loyalty. He described President Tinubu as a leader who fulfils his promises and urged the community to continue supporting leaders with integrity and a proven track record.
Wike said leadership should be based on trust and consistency, adding that those who had demonstrated commitment to the people deserved their backing. He encouraged residents to remain united and politically focused.
The minister also paid a courtesy visit to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Akete Tom, where he commended the traditional ruler for promoting peace and unity within the kingdom. Wike acknowledged the importance of traditional institutions in maintaining stability in the state.
During the palace visit, Wike hinted that a clear decision had been made regarding the 2027 general elections. He said details would be communicated by his political team at the appropriate time, while urging the monarch to remain neutral in political matters.
He told the king that the coming political period would not follow the usual pattern and appealed for understanding. Wike asked that any disagreements arising from political activities be addressed through dialogue, assuring that his team would be open to resolution if issues emerged.
The declaration by the Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress is expected to further reshape political alignments in Rivers State as tensions continue between key political figures ahead of future elections.
