1 month ago
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Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Nyesom Wike
The Ijaw National Congress has warned all parties involved in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State to avoid actions or statements that could trigger an ethnic conflict.
This followed the feud between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the INC’s National Publicity Secretary, Ezonebi Oyakemeagbegha, expressed concern over the recent loss of lives and destruction of property in the state.
Oyakemeagbegha cautioned that the crisis could escalate if not addressed promptly, calling on Wike to reconcile with Fubara to restore peace in the state.
He stated, “At this critical time, we believe that further escalation of this crisis is unnecessary. The ongoing situation is essentially a political dispute between Wike and Fubara, not an ethnic conflict. We urge everyone to be cautious with their words and not frame this as a tribal issue.
“If the FCT Minister reaches out for reconciliation, we believe the governor will respond positively. We are concerned about those who may want to undermine Fubara’s efforts in governance. Let him complete his tenure without disruption; we recognise the importance of Rivers State and the potential for this situation to escalate further.”
Also, a member of the Rivers Elders Council, Asukewe Iko-Awaji, warned that ethnicity should not be part of the conversation in the Rivers crisis.
“Younger politicians often resort to violence, but seasoned politicians understand that politics is about interest, dialogue, and negotiation,” Iko-Awaji said.
He added that the crisis is a matter of political interest, not ethnic rivalry, adding, “If discussions don’t yield immediate results, patience is key. Those currently aligned with the governor were once with Wike, illustrating that this is primarily a matter of political interest.”
