Politics
Ijaw Group Meet INC, Defend Wike Over Appointments

Ijaw social cultural group in Rivers State under Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress, RIPCO, has told the Ijaw National Congress, INC, that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, has demonstrated his love for the Ijaw nation contrary to claims in some quarters arising from the political crisis rocking Rivers State.
The RIPCO, which led a delegation of its leaders to hold a crucial meeting with the Prof. Benjamin Okaba -led INC and Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, at Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said the narrative that Wike hated the Ijaws was not true.
He said out of his love, Wike gave more federal appointments he attracted to Rivers to Ijaw leaders and recalled that during his administration as the governor, he appointed Ijaw people into strategic positions.
The leaders of the delegation, Senator Alabo George Sekibo, and Hon. Boma Iyaye said there was a need for the INC to maintain neutrality in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Sekibo said though the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara had problems with his benefactor, Wike, the governor had not told the Ijaw nation the reasons for their feud.
He said Rivers Ijaw People’s Congress was interested in the unity amongst Ijaw people and rancour-free collaborations with other ethnic nationalities in the state, emphasizing that without the cooperation of other ethnic groups in the state, the Ijaw, as a minority group in Rivers, would not win elections in the state.
His words: “Ijaws are minorities in Rivers State. We can’t win elections on our own. We have to work with other ethnicities in Rivers State.
“Wike does not despise Ijaw people contrary to claims in some quarters. Five out of the nine federal appointments he facilitated to Rivers State were given to Ijaw leaders.
“As a group, Fubara is our governor. We are not fighting him. But we will keep praying for him for wisdom. We believe he is being distracted.”
Sekibo appealed to the Okaba-led INC not to take sides in the crisis but to work assiduously to resolve the current political misunderstanding in the state for the good of Ijaw Nation.
In his remarks, Okaba said the INC was only committed to ensuring peace, unity and development in the entire Ijaw nation including Rivers.
He said that the INC would work closely with any organisation that would benefit the Ijaw nation, describing Ijaw interest as paramount.
He said the INC was not happy that the Ijaw people were divided over the political crisis in Rivers State, insisting that Ijaws could be strong even in diversity of political affiliations.
Okaba said: “We will support any group that will benefit Ijaw people. In the same manner, we are going to fight any group that is against the progress of the Ijaw Nation.
“Ijaw Nation is grateful to Wike for working for an Ijaw man to lead Rivers State. We don’t hate him. We also recall the efforts of Ijaw people in Wike’s political journey, especially his emergence as Governor.
“There was a time INC spokesman responded to a northern group that lambasted Wike. We said we cannot allow people to attack any Niger Delta leader for no just cause while we are here. The mandate of INC is to protect the interest of the Ijaw people. And it will remain so.
“We must come together because our unity is our strength. I believe we can be strong even in diversity. But let’s not fight ourselves. You are free to be loyal to Wike since he has been good to you. Ijaw people are very grateful people. We have been helped and we are also helping.
“However, let’s not in any way frustrate Sim Fubara. He is the undisputed Governor of Rivers State. So while we are calling for peace and appreciating the godfather (Wike) who brought him, the Governor deserves our respect. You have to protect him because he is our son”
Politics
Oborevwori suggests Ibori may defect to APC

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State says the All Progressives Congress, APC, will welcome former governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, into the party’s fold.
Oborevwori who recently defected to the party from the Peoples Democratic Party, made the remarks during the vigil mass held in honour of the former deputy governor of the state, Prof Amos Utuama.
DAILY POST reports that the mass was held on Wednesday at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, who stressed the need for unity among the Urhobo political class, highlighted the selfless contributions of the transited former deputy governor.
“I am very happy to be here today, seeing this large gathering for one man. The preaching today is not about the dead, it is about the living.
“There are many things our former deputy governor did while he was alive. I will mention just a few key ones.
“He donated the land allocated to him in Asaba while he was deputy governor to the Catholic Church.
“He also contributed to building of the church. To me, that is a kingdom investment,” he said.
Oborevwori prayed that the passing of the deceased would bring peace and unity to Ughelli South and the entire Urhobo ethnic group.
In his exhortation, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Warri, Most Rev. Anthony Ewherido, affirmed that the late Prof. Amos Utuama lived an impactful life in both the church and the society.
Ewherido condoled with the family, urging them to uphold the legacies of their father which were: godliness, humility, charity and selflessness.
The bishop described the death of a Christian as a transition to eternal glory and reminded everyone of the need to accept Christ while alive to enjoy eternity after the physical death.
He also called for continued unity among the political class for the peace and development of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr Ovie Utuama, son of the deceased, appreciated all for their support and requested prayers for the family during this difficult period.
Politics
PDP would have flushed out APC in 2023 if Okowa was not Atiku’s running mate-Moro confesses

Abba Moro, the senator representing Benue south, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have won the 2023 presidential election if it had not chosen Ifeanyi Okowa as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar, its presidential candidate.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Moro said the choice of Okowa, the former governor of Delta state, as the opposition party’s vice-presidential candidate was a “serious mistake“.
This is coming on the heels of a comment by Okowa, who said he regretted being Abubakar’s running mate during the 2023 elections.
Okowa, who spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Monday, said his being the PDP’s vice-presidential candidate was against his people’s will.
On April 23, Okowa and Sheriff Oborevwori, governor of Delta, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former governor of Delta said his defection to the ruling party was in the “best interest of our people” and the need for the people of the state to “connect to Abuja”.
However, Moro said Okowa’s claim of regret after the PDP failed to win the presidential election in Delta state showed that his “soul” was not in the party.
“Given what we know now, with the hindsight that we have now, some of us think that the party would have won the election if other candidates, other than Okowa, had been picked as the vice-presidential candidate from the south,” the Benue senator said.
“I think there is an error of judgment on the part of everybody that was involved in the choice of Okowa as the candidate.
“How else would you characterise this scenario that a sitting governor, a former senator, and a presidential candidate of a party couldn’t deliver his state even to the presidential candidate?”
“And to think that two out of the senators from that state were from the opposition parties other than the PDP.
“So, I think that picking Okowa as the vice-presidential candidate in 2023 was a very serious mistake.”
Moro added that Okowa’s action showed a lack of commitment to the party.
“As it is now, you can safely conclude that we lost the election because of lack of commitment,” he said.
“Otherwise, how can you explain that shortly after losing his state, that ordinarily should have been a very easy pick for the PDP, instead of rendering an apology to the party and Nigeria, he’s now talking about regretting being on the ticket?
“His soul was not in the PDP. His soul was not in that election, and that is why we performed very miserably in Delta state.”
Politics
APC leader Onokpasa blasts Tinubu’s performance

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Jesutega Onokpasa says President Bola Tinubu has failed woefully based on the performance of his administration.
Onokpasa stated this in an interview with Arise Television on Sunday, warning that the president may end up being a one-term president if he did not improve in his performance.
Onokpasa also expressed school why Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, who he referred to as his cousin, defected to the APC.
According to him, the governor’s defection to the ruling party does not add any value to the APC or the state.
The APC chieftain reiterated that the ruling party should not focus on the defection of opposition politicians into its fold but on good governance.
Onokpasa added that the defections of opposition leaders to the APC negate the principles of democracy.
“It is not a question of people defecting to our party. It is a question of are we ruling well? In that sense, we failed woefully.
“President Bola Tinubu has failed woefully to rule well, provide food for Nigerians, and give succour in these hard times.
“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who recently defected to our party, is actually my cousin. I don’t have the slightest idea why he defected to our party. He did not inform me. I wish him well,” he said.
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