Wike’s reception sparks widespread condemnation by Ijaw groups
By Daniel Abia
The civic reception hosted by the Rivers Ijaw Peoples’ Congress (RIPCO) in honor of former Rivers State governor and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has sparked widespread condemnation from various Ijaw groups.
The latest to join the chorus of disapproval are the chiefs and elders of Amadi-Ama Community, who have distanced themselves from RIPCO’s actions.
In a joint statement with the Amanyanabo-in-Council, community leaders emphasized that Governor Siminialayi Fubara has taken no actions warranting a public apology to Wike, rendering RIPCO’s event unnecessary and driven by ulterior motives.
They clarified that anyone attending the event in Amadi-Ama Community’s name did so voluntarily.
RIPCO’s legitimacy has been challenged, with community leaders asserting that the organization is not recognized or affiliated with the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) or Ijaw National Congress (INC). Instead, RIPCO is viewed as a composition of “political jobbers” seeking favors from Wike.
Reactions from Ijaw Organizations
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) and Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eastern Zone, have strongly rejected the reception and public apology to Wike on behalf of Governor Fubara.
IYC described RIPCO as a “political pressure group created to advance Wike’s interests rather than a genuine socio-cultural organization of the Ijaw people.”
The Ijaw Peoples United Forum (IPUF) also distanced itself from RIPCO’s event, labeling it a “self-serving maneuver to curry favor with Minister Wike rather than genuinely representing the Ijaw people.”
These statements reflect the Ijaw community’s concerns about RIPCO’s actions and their perceived impact on Governor Fubara’s authority and the Ijaw people’s interests.
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