PRESS RELEASE
The Chairman and members of the caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Rivers State would wish to use this ample opportunity to draw the attention of all Rivers people to the dangerous slide into primordialism by Gov. Fubara by his ethnocentric posturing and policies. These, if unchecked are capable of igniting ethnic tensions, mistrust and eventual breakdown of law and order in our dear state.
Recall that on the day the revered Rivers State House of Assembly Complex(Relic) was burned down, Gov. Fubara was on hand with his ethno based supporters who were screaming-ASAWANA- WANA(IJAW OR NOTHING) Signaling a declaration of war against all other ethnic groups than his-IJAW
Furthermore, GOV. Fubara’s weekly, solely funded ‘Thanksgiving’ for Supreme Court judgement in the 2023 election petition in his favor last weekend in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the state, Gov. Fubara watched helplessly how one Dr Abiye Sekibo and other IJAW sons were stoking ethnic tensions and up till this moment, Gov. Fubara has not reprimanded them for creating ethnic disharmony capable of inflaming the state, leading to insecurity.
In the just concluded meetings leading up to the PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEC meeting in Wadata Plaza, Abuja. We saw Gov. Fubara and his IJAW supporters chanting ASAWANA- WANA(IJAW OR NOTHING)
Rivers State is made up of a plethora of ethnic groups who have cohabitated peacefully before Gov. Fubara emerged as the governor. Note, also that all the political parties in the state are made up of Rivers sons and daughters cutting across the ethnic groups and divide who have associated freely in pursuit of their interests without fear or favour. Rivers state is NOT an IJAW state, neither is it an OGONI, IKWERRE, EKPEYE, ETCHE etc. IJAW National Congress(INC), Ogbakor Ikwerre National Convention, Ogbakor Etche, KAGOTE, Uzugbani EKPEYE etc are NOT POLITICAL PARTIES but social cultural organizations and MUST remain so for peace, tranquility and absence of ethnic domination in our state.
Gov. Fubara degenerating to an IJAW governor is troubling. He is a Rivers governor and MUST act as such by taking every citizen, ethnic group/divide and interests together for a more peaceful coexistence.
Providence made it possible for an Ikwerre-Chief (Bar) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON, immediate past Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the FCT, Abuja and friends across
the state and beyond for the emergence of Gov. Fubara(an IJAW).
We have continuously and continually drawn the attention of peace loving and development enthusiasts to let Gov Fubara understand and appreciate the need for a peaceful coexistence and its attendant benefits to the state. Development is shy in crisis prone environment.
Consequently, we request Gov. Fubara consider the following urgently :-
1. rein in his ethnic warlords who have continued to threaten other ethnic groups in the state.
2. address Rivers people with a view to dousing the ethnic tensions exacerbated by the despicable actions of his ethic group supporters.
3. take necessary actions to alleviate the insecurity occasioned by his refusal to call them to order by reassuring Rivers people of a free, fair and inclusive governance.
As an opposition party, we will not shy away from our responsibility of pointing to the failures of the government in power, particularly as Gov. Fubara and his Party-PDP have continued to dig deeper in politics to the abandonment of integration, good governance, security, transparency and accountability.
Finally, any claim of increased revenue that does not translate to the overall wellbeing of the people of the state through qualitative service delivery is deceit taken too far.
Thank you
Signed
Chibike Ikenga
For and on behalf of the Caretaker Committee,
APC, Rivers State.
20th April, 2024
