As the Rivers State political atmosphere becomes tense, Ijaw diaspora groups Tuesday, hit the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, over a comment referring to the Ijaws as a minority group in the Niger Delta region, and insults rained on Ijaw elders.
Their displeasure was contained in an open letter addressed to Wike and the Senator George Sekibo-led faction under the banner of the Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress, RIPCO.
The open letter was signed by Professor Mondy Selly Gold, (United States) President of Ijaw Diaspora Council and Amadabo of Ijaw Diaspora; Dr. Ziworiti Dama (United States) — Member, Ijaw Diaspora Think Tank Committee.
Dr. MacDonald I. J. Mopho (United Kingdom) — Member Ijaw Diaspora Think Tank Committee;
Dr. Abiye Hector-Goma (United Kingdom) — Member, Ijaw Diaspora Think Tank Committee; Dr. Charles Jumbo (United Kingdom) — Member, Ijaw Diaspora Think Tank Committee; Dr. Emmanuel Obogo (Saudi Arabia) — Member, Ijaw Diaspora Think Tank Committee.
Mr. Suoton Dambo (Australia) is a member of the Ijaw Diaspora Think Tank Committee, and Dr. Edward P. Agbai (Canada) is the IDC Secretary and Member of the Ijaw Diaspora Think Tank Committee.
The letter read in part, “As representatives of various Ijaw Diaspora groups, we may individually hold political opinions on Nigerian political issues, but as a group, we maintain political neutrality regarding politics in Nigeria, particularly the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, which began in October 2023.
We believe these matters can be resolved constitutionally and politically through dialogue.
Our political neutrality is informed by the reality that Ijaws are present in both political camps — those of Governor Sim Fubara and Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
However, we are now compelled to break our neutrality and call Chief Wike to order for his inflammatory and misleading comments describing the Ijaw people as “the minority of the minorities” in the Niger Delta.
We are alarmed that someone who has held the esteemed position of Governor of Rivers State from 2015 to 2023 and is currently serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory is seemingly ignorant of the fact that the Ijaws are the majority ethnic group in the Niger Delta and, in fact, the fourth-largest ethnic group in Nigeria.
We question what Chief Wike stands to gain by distorting facts and making such inflammatory remarks about the Ijaw people.
We are aware that Chief Wike may have received his education when history was not adequately taught in some Nigerian schools.
This might explain his apparent lack of awareness that it was an Ijaw man, Ernest Ikoli (1893–1960), who was the first to initiate the agitation for Nigerian independence — before Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, and Harold Dappa-Biriye (another Ijaw), who later carried the baton and successfully negotiated Nigeria’s independence in 1960.
The Rivers State that Chief Wike governed for eight years (2015–2023) might not exist in its present form were it not for the tireless agitations of a foremost Ijaw leader, Chief Harold Dappa-Biriye, who was a lifelong advocate for the rights of Niger Delta minorities. Chief Dappa-Biriye initially fought for the autonomy of Rivers during the Independence Constitutional Conferences in London between 1954 and 1957.
When this effort did not succeed, he forged alliances with several prominent sons of Rivers State to campaign for its creation — a goal ultimately achieved in 1967.
For any Nigerian — let alone an indigene of Rivers State — to speak of the Ijaw people in the disparaging manner that Chief Wike did, despite the Ijaw people’s historical contributions to the Niger Delta, raises serious concerns.
One is left to wonder whether Chief Wike has simply chosen to remain ignorant of Niger Delta history or if he is deliberately sowing discord in Rivers State now that he is no longer in direct control.
Meanwhile, the group expressed disappointment in Senator George Sekibo’s, what it described as disheartening, role in not cautioning Wike of his attacks and insults on Ijaw elders, including the late Chief Edwin Clark.
Even more disheartening is the role of Senator George Sekibo, who, rather than upholding his responsibility as an Ijaw elder, is leading a faction under the banner of the Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress (RIPCO) that actively celebrates Chief Wike.
This group not only holds press conferences in his defense but also organizes receptions in his honor — despite his repeated public disparagement of esteemed Ijaw elders, including the late Chief E. K. Clark, and, by extension, the entire Ijaw ethnic group.
While, ordinarily, it would be inappropriate for us to criticize any Ijaw son or group for their associations or friendships in a democratic society and a free world, we cannot remain silent in the face of Chief Wike’s continuous use of provocative and inflammatory language against the Ijaw people in his press conferences.
We know too well that the various ongoing wars around the world began with inflammatory rhetoric, escalating tensions until peace became elusive and conflict became an unfortunate reality.
Because we do not wish to see Rivers State engulfed in turmoil, we respectfully urge Chief Wike to moderate his inflammatory language against the Ijaw people, particularly our esteemed elders, such as the late Chief E. K. Clark.
Furthermore, we call on Senator George Sekibo and the Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress to fulfill the duty of true friendship by rebuking an erring ally.
A good friend does not remain silent when someone disrespects their ancestors and elders or denigrates their ethnic group”, it added.
