INC To PDP Chairman: Sustain Your Support For FCT Minister, Wike, Ijaws Can’t Save Eggs In Lone Basket
President, Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba has advised the South-South zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party/Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Bayelsa State Chapter of the Party, Barr. Alabh George Turnah to sustain his relationship and support for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike.
He gave the advice Tuesday May 6, during an apology visit by the latter to him in his Yenagoa residence, Bayelsa State.
Okaba praised the PDP stalwart for his resolve to tender an apology, describing it as a demonstration of strong leadership and not weakness.
“Maintain your support and collaboration with the FCT Minister, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON. The Ijaw nation cannot afford to put its eggs in one basket politically,” the INC President said.
Our source gathered that the PDP chieftain had visited Okaba to pay homage and extend his personal apologies and regrets over some of his public comments regarding the person and office of the INC President.
Turnah, who is also the Lead Convener of the State chapter of the Pro-Wike group, the ‘New Associates’, said he was clearly misunderstood and misconstrued by many.
The party chieftain commended Okaba for his dedicated leadership of the INC and called for greater support, noting that ethnicity has no place in politics and urged the socio-cultural leader of the Ijaw race to find means to address political issues without involving the INC as an institution.
He said: “The INC, sir, is a revered socio-cultural organization that represents the Ijaw interest and speaks for the Ijaw people.
“I would like to call on you, my leader, and the entire INC leadership to initiate robust peace moves in order to facilitate the restoration of suspended Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, back to office in no distant time.
“It’s only sincere apology and genuine reconciliation that can yield positive results in the current Rivers political crisis.”
Meanwhile, the INC President has advised Turnah to pay a similar visit to the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for reconciliation.
Okaba described the State Chief Executive as Governor-General of the Ijaw nation, reiterating that such a visit was essential for the greater good and unity of the Ijaw nation.
He cautioned against divisive behaviors among the Ijaw political class and noted that the current calm in the Ijaw nation regarding the situation in Rivers State was intentional and deliberate to allow for peace and enable Governor Sim Fubara to pursue genuine reconciliation with his benefactor and political father, Minister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
The high point of the visit was Turnah’s tender of his apologies on bended knees, reiterating that his remarks on Okaba were misunderstood.”
