Former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, on Sunday, said that he had been vindicated on his stance that the political crisis between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) affair and has nothing to do with the Ijaw ethnic nationality.
Key Highlights
- Eradiri says he was vindicated over Wike-Fubara crisis.
- He describes the dispute as a PDP affair.
- Warns against ethnicising the political disagreement.
- Says the crisis damaged inter-ethnic relationships.
- Defends Wike’s contributions to Ijaw interests.
Eradiri recalled that when he made his position known during the crisis, many Ijaw leaders, who wanted to profit from the dispute attacked him.
He commended Governor Fubara for returning to his political family, but warned that the political fallout has created divisions and animosity that would take time to repair.
According to him, attempts by politicians to ethnicise the dispute between Wike and Governor Fubara damaged the relationships between the Ijaw and other ethnic nationalities in the state.
He argued that Governor Fubara’s emergence as governor was not the product of a collective decision by the Ijaw people, insisting that Wike did not consult the Ijaw ethnic nationality before choosing his successor.
Eradiri said Governor Fubara’s lack of extensive political experience before becoming governor contributed to the crisis, warning that political office without adequate political preparation could create serious problems.
The former IYC leader also rejected the narrative that Wike has become an enemy of the Ijaws, recalling the minister’s role in supporting the Ijaw community after the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Eradiri also referred to appointments of Rivers State people into positions at the federal level, arguing that Wike’s political influence contributed significantly to some of the opportunities enjoyed by the Ijaw and Rivers State people.
He said the Ijaw people must also critically examine what happened during the crisis, particularly the fate of those who became politically exposed because of their support for Governor Fubara.
Eradiri blamed Governor Fubara for allowing the disagreement with Wike to escalate, stressing that the FCT minister played a major role in his political journey.
He, however, cautioned that the end of the Wike-Fubara crisis did not automatically resolve the political and ethnic tensions involving the Ijaw in Rivers State.
According to him, the Ijaws still have a legitimate opportunity to seek the governorship of Rivers State, but warned that such an ambition would require strategic alliances with other ethnic nationalities.
Eradiri challenged Ijaw leaders, who believe the ethnic group possesses the political strength to produce a governor to demonstrate it by sponsoring and supporting a candidate.
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He said no ethnic group can single-handedly win the governorship of Rivers State, stressing that political victory depends on broad-based alliances.
The former IYC president urged the Ijaw to repair their relationships with other ethnic groups and abandon what he described as the perception that the Ijaw could intimidate their way into political power.
On the emerging political alignment ahead of the 2027 elections, Eradiri urged the Ijaw people to consider either working with the Rainbow Coalition or collapsing all their structures to back an Ijaw candidate in another party.
Eradiri welcomed the emergence of Major Jack as the coalition’s Ijaw running mate, urging the Ijaw people to rally around him and use the opportunity to rebuild their political influence.
