Following the political crisis rocking the state, stakeholders from the Ogoni and Oyigbo ethnic extractions in Rivers state held a crucial meeting at the weekend and resolved to produce the replacement of the state governor, Siminialayi Fubara in 2027.
The event, which was held under the auspices of Ogoni/Oyigbo Peoples Assembly at Tai at had prominent politicians across party lines, Senator Barinada Mpigi, Senator Magnus Abe, Amb. Desmond Akawor, and Chief Victor Giadom among others in attendance.
They resolved that the two ethnic nationalities, which falls under the same senatorial district must remain united to produce Fubara’s replacement in 2027.
As part of their resolution after the meeting, they called on major parties to consider Ogoni/Oyigbo for governorship, as most of the leaders took their turns to condemn some of the actions of the governor.
The leaders commended the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for uniting Ogoni and Oyigbo politically and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prepare for a second term in 2027.
Reading their communique after the meeting, Senator Mpigi said: “The Ogoni and Oyigbo Peoples Assembly express gratitude to God Almighty for a successful assembly, loyalty, gratitude and support to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We also affirm complete faith, loyalty and commendation to the Minister of the FCT, Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike not only as our leader in Rivers State but as the extraordinary unparalleled achiever in public service both as governor of Rivers State and as minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
“This Peoples Assembly as an organisation will educate itself along the lines of sister organisations such as Kagote, Mosop, Ofalaru’ Eleme, Asa/Ndoki progressives, etc for the pursuit of our political and economic freedom and advancement.
“This Assembly recalls that at the end of the tenure of Nyesom Wike as governor, he directed that his successor should come from the Rivers South East Senatorial District. This was indeed the right thing to do as it was the only senatorial district that is yet to produce governor of Rivers State since its creation.
“He chose Sim Fubara of Opobo as governor despite it being the smallest LGA in the district. In our usual loyalty for the party’s position and the decision of our leader, we allowed it to pull through.
“The battle to secure victory for Sim Fubara was difficult as he was seen as non-Ijaw, semi-Ijaw. It is ironic but we accept the fact that those who opposed and voted against him Sim Fubara that he is unworthy and unfit are today his friends while those of us who worked tirelessly for his hard earned victory under the leadership of the FCT Minister are now and ever his worst enemies”.
The assembly told Chief Edwin Clark that the Ogoni and Oyigbo People were totally committed to whatever thing that had to do with the Minister of the FCT and at no point in time should he address the minister negatively because he was never in support of Fubara at the initial time.
“The years the leaders of Rivers State have tried to unite our people in spite of our ethnic fault lines but no one more than Clark sees anything outside Ijaw.
“He criticized Fubara as not Ijaw at night but once the problem between the Gov. Fubara and Minister Wike started, Fubara suddenly became an acceptable Ijaw to Clark. For Clark the interest of other ethnic groups doesn’t matter but only the Ijaws.
“It is important to mention that we are the Ogonis and Oyigbos and we are one of the largest ethnic groups in Rivers State, perhaps second or the most outstanding after the Ikwerres. We voted for an Ijaw man to be governor only to be condemned by this Ijaw Leader.
“We are asking Chief Clark to most respectfully withdraw any form of hatred and insulting words against our leader and Minister of the FCT immediately. We have out of respect for his age and person restrained ourselves from joining issues with him.
“There are issues in Delta his home State that require his attention. His obsession and rudeness in Rivers State affairs has divided us and cut us apart and kind of consciously threatening our peace.
“Please, this is good enough time for him to put his energies on his legacy and attend to his unfatherly behaviour. His ignoble act has spurred characters like Hon. Ugochinyere Imo and Chief Dan Anyanwu among others.
“These individuals are conflict merchants and rent seekers with no roles in their own states. Their easy or leased access to Rivers State resources has made intrusion into our affairs irresistible.
“Like Clark, they will pick on Wike and say the most outrageous things on national TV in other to get the little they seek from Rivers State. They do not fact check or consider the gravity of their attention seeking media appearances of those false allegations against Wike or of us”.
The stakeholders declared their support for the 27 lawmakers led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule describing them as the authentic and the only recognised members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“We also stand with the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. We also stand with the decision of the Supreme Court that CTCs are unlawful.
“We are disturbed by the continuous disbursement of funds to care-takers Committees… which constitutes one of the most wasteful expenditure of our time. A time will come when all these funds will definitely be demanded.
“While from time to time we shall speak further on contemporary issues, we wish to believe that the Ogonis and Oyigbos will no longer stand by and be helpless in fighting for our interest.
“For us, our time has come and our time is now. Our time to fight for the education of our children, our time to pursue the right of our people, to create opportunities, to empower our youths and women and create the environment for our people to actualize their innate potentials.
“This is our moment, this is our time. We demand our right to seek the highest office in our state. It is time to ensure that the next governor of Rivers State is from our zone.
“It is only if and working with the Ikwerres, the people of Orashi, Etches, Ijaws of Rivers State and others, we shall prevail, we shall win”.
Senator Barinada Mpigi earlier challenged all political actors visiting the Aso Villa at night to come out publicly to declare their support for Mr. President.
He called on Mr. President in the spirit and mind of the assembly to contest the 2027 general election in other to consolidate on his current efforts at improving the comatose economy he inherited from his predecessors.
He said: “I am calling on Mr. President unwaveringly demanding him to come openly and also contest the 2027 general election as President so that he can finish the numerous projects ranging from the Coastal Roads, to the Badagry Express Road and all the ones from Calabar down here, we are also beneficiaries.
“The road from Onne expanded down here and every ongoing projects of Mr. President, what do we have to say, I don’t think there is anybody in the People’s Democratic Party that can come out to contest against him and I’m challenging all the people in the People’s Democratic Party that I belong, if you like you can do another letter and call it letter of invitation, I will not appear because I am totally supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Mpigi also commended the FCT Minister and leader and vowed that the people from Ogoni and Oyigbo would continue to support him.
He said: “I want to thank our Leader, the most respectful, most performing Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and to say because of him we are gathered here. At any point in time Ogoni and Oyigbo belongs to you and will continue to belong to you.
“But let me warn regarding the disturbing incident that happened at Eleme today, today must be the last. Unfortunately, I wasn’t around but the next time it happens, we will return it to them.
In his remarks, Desmond Akawor, who is the Chairman of the occasion said that since the Ijaw people within the senatorial district had segregated themselves from the upland, they would make a statement that would change the political history of the state come 2027.
Also, Chief Victor Giadom the Southsouth Deputy National Chairman of APC in his speech thanked Wike for the peace and unity of purpose by uniting the entire Ogoni and Oyigbo politically.
He said the last time a major political party in the country gave an Ogoni/Oyigbo man opportunity was in 1983 in the person of Chief Kemte Giadom on the platform of NPP.
On his part, Sen Olaka Nwogu, maintained that Chief Wike would continue to be the political leader of Rivers and queried the destruction of properties at the venue of a peaceful assembly, which ought to have held at Eleme by hoodlums.
Senator Magnus Ngei Abe advised everyone to embrace peace and unity noting that it was the only way to achieve their dreams.