The elders and leaders of the Ijaw Diaspora Council, have unequivocally, and vehemently condemned the appalling, reckless, and utterly disgraceful utterances of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, against one of Nigeria’s most revered elder statesmen and the indefatigable former leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum, Chief Dr. Edwin Clark.
Professor Mondy Gold, the President, Ijaw Diaspora Council and Amadabo of Ijaw Diaspora who made this known in a statement on Thursday, said Wike’s brazen public insult, spewed on national television, is not merely an affront to Chief Clark but also an affront to the dignity of Nigeria as one nation and the collective sensibilities of all progressive and well-meaning Nigerians.
He noted that the Minister’s uncouth remarks, laced with arrogance, ethnic denigration, and political mischief, expose a disturbing pattern of disregard for elders, minority voices, and historical truths.
In his words, “We, the Ijaw Diaspora, categorically state that Nyesom Wike has demonstrated, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that he is unfit to hold any public office, particularly within a fragile political landscape such as Rivers State today. His words are not just the rants of an overzealous political opportunist; they are the incendiary provocations of a dangerous demagogue hellbent on fanning the embers of discord in Rivers State and the Niger Delta at large”.
President Tinubu Must Act Decisively
The Ijaw Diaspora called upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take immediate and decisive action to rein in Wike’s unchecked recklessness before it spirals into an uncontrollable crisis between the Ijaw and Ikwerre peoples in Rivers State.
Speaking further, Prof. Gold explained that it is an undeniable historical fact that the Ikwerre ethnic group occupies only four local government areas (Emohua, Ikwerre, Obio-Akpor, and part of Port Harcourt), yet Wike’s constant political manipulations and divisive rhetoric threaten to destabilize the delicate ethnic harmony of the state.
“The President must recognize that silence in the face of such blatant provocation will be construed as complicity. Failure to act now will inevitably lead to grave and irreversible consequences for the unity and peace of Rivers State and its peace-loving people. Given that Nigeria depends on the state’s resources, ensuring security must be a primary objective. It is, therefore, imperative to draw the President’s attention to the inciting outburst of his Minister”, he said.
Averting Catastrophe in Rivers State
Furthermore, the Ijaw Diaspora President stated that Wike’s outburst is not mere political grandstanding, but a dangerous prelude to ethnic antagonism that could plunge Rivers State into chaos.
He emphasized that the Ijaw people will not remain silent in the face of such insults, nor will they tolerate any further denigration of their leaders and people, adding that “this is precisely why we are calling on the President to act. If Wike is not swiftly called to order, his inflammatory rhetoric may incite unavoidable confrontation between the Ijaw and Ikwerre communities—a situation that must be averted at all costs”.
He pointed out that the Ijaw Nation has sacrificed immensely for the development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria, and so, “categorically reject any attempt to relegate, bully, or disrespect us—whether by a Minister of the Republic or a political opportunist intoxicated by power and blinded by personal vendettas”.
The Ijaw Diaspora called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to prevent the looming crisis in Rivers State, adding that the Council remains unwavering in its commitment to justice, equity, and the preservation of peace.
“We reaffirm our loyalty to our leaders, our heritage, and our unyielding pursuit of fairness and dignity for all Ijaw people. At this critical moment, we stand in solidarity with the good people of Rivers State and His Excellency Governor Sim Fubara.
“The time for decisive action is now. We shall continue to work with the President to maintain peace—on just terms”, the statement concluded.
