LAGOS, Federal Republic of Nigeria (Report by Daniel Abia) — The people of Ijaw nation in Rivers State have heaped the blame of President Goodluck Jonathan’s failure in the last Presidential election on the doorsteps of the state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and the All Progressives Congress (APC), which it said worked against the interest of the Niger Delta.
The position of the Ijaw nation was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its deliberations in Port Harcourt at the weekend.
The Forum reviewed the happenings in the polity especially the electoral fortunes of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by President Goodluck Jonathan.
After exhaustive deliberations, the Forum came up with some decisions that will certainly impact on not just the governorship election this Saturday but future politics of Nigeria.
It noted that the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections “have raised fresh issues in Nigeria and in particular, the open complicity against the interest of Ijaw People, the Niger Delta and the South-South Geo-Political Zone”.
The Ijaw Forum said it acknowledged the strong bond of brotherhood amongst the People’s of the Niger Delta and which clearly manifested itself in Rivers State at the elections.
“Succeeding generations will judge kindly the noble role played by Chief Nyesom Wike, the leader of PDP in Rivers State, who, when it became necessary to be our brother’s keeper, rose to the occasion, stood for our brother, an Ijaw man and a son of the South-South Zone. We are truly proud of our collective efforts as a Party and congratulate ourselves”.
The communiqué which was jointly signed by Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, Chairman and Dr Silva Opusunju Secretary said the Forum noted with great sadness, that the “APC leadership in Rivers State worked against the Niger Delta and the Ijaws in particular when it mattered most and collaborated actively in the conspiracy to scuttle the second term ambition of their Ijaw brother, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Rivers APC has therefore lost every right to seek the Ijaw support in the forthcoming elections.
“Rivers Ijaws should therefore remain vigilant and not be deceived by those our detractors whose actions have been detrimental to the Ijaw interest and who preach Ijaw unity only when they need our votes. The Rivers Ijaws know who our true sons and friends are and we will stand by them, come April 11, 2015”.
