Wike Benefited From Ijaw Support In Becoming Minister And Governor – Okaba

Wike Benefited From Ijaw Support In Becoming Minister And Governor – Okaba

The National President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Benjamin Okaba, has stated that Nyesom Wike lacks the moral authority to question the role of the Ijaw people in the development of Rivers State………READ MORE

Speaking in an interview with News Central, Okaba emphasized that Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was selected, appointed as a minister, and later made governor by an Ijaw leader despite opposition from many.

He condemned the ethnic profiling of the Ijaw people, following Wike’s remarks that the Ijaw nation does not constitute the majority ethnic group in Rivers State.

Okaba highlighted the historical contributions of the Ijaw people, noting that they have played a crucial role in shaping the state since its creation. He referenced key Ijaw figures, including the first military governor of Rivers State, Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, and the first civilian governor, Melford Okilo, who he credited with significant developmental contributions.

He further asserted that the Ijaw people were instrumental in Wike’s rise to power, stating that an Ijaw leader played a decisive role in his appointment as a minister and later as governor. Okaba questioned why Wike would now seek to downplay the Ijaw people’s contributions to the state’s growth.