The Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Udengs Eradiri, has called on the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to apologise to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to help de-escalate the political crisis in the state.
Eradiri attributed the ongoing tension in Rivers to what he described as Fubara’s incompetence. He also criticised the governor for allegedly attempting to give the crisis an ethnic colouration.
Eradiri urged Fubara to “go and kneel before Wike and beg for forgiveness,” alleging that those backing the governor publicly still privately seek Wike’s favour.
He stated, “As for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, he is incompetent and that is what has brought all this negative energy. He should not involve Ijaw in his political issues and affairs. Let him tell us how he has supported the Ijaws or Ijaw activities.
“How many Ijaws of Rivers State did he empower that he is demanding Ijaw support now? How many of the IYC comrades in the Eastern zone were LGA chairmen, commissioners and appointees in his government?
“I advise Fubara to go and kneel before Wike and beg for forgiveness. Those who are deceiving him have no balls. They go cap in hand kneeling and begging the same Wike when they get it they come in the open to claim Ijaw lions,” he added.
The former LP candidate also criticised the Ijaw National Congress (INC) for its handling of the situation, warning the body to steer clear of partisan politics and not to prioritise governors’ egos over institutional integrity.
He stressed that no one is more Ijaw than another and urged the INC to maintain neutrality and protect the broader interests of the Ijaw people.
