The president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof Benjamin Okaba, has supported the collaboration between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the coordinator of the NEW associates in Bayelsa State, George Turnah.
Okaba asked Turnah to sustain the political union, saying the Ijaw could not afford to put its eggs in one basket.
A statement signed by Turnah’s special assistant on media, Kevin Egbo, said Okaba spoke when Turnah visited him to brief him on the political happenings in Bayelsa.
Okaba commended Turnah for his visit and apologised, describing it as the hallmark of strong leadership.
He, however, urged him to make a similar visit to the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for reconciliation for the greater good and unity of the Ijaw nation.
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Okaba cautioned against divisive behaviour among the political class, stressing that the calm in the Ijaw nation over the Rivers political debacle was deliberate. It allowed for peace and enabled Fubara to pursue genuine reconciliation with his benefactor and political father, Wike.
In his remarks, Turnah, who is the acting Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa, expressed regret over some recent public comments regarding the office of the INC, which he said were misconstrued in some quarters.
He commended Okaba for his dedicated leadership of the INC and urged for greater support.
He also reiterated that ethnicity had no place in politics and urged the socio-cultural leader of the Ijaw race to find means to address political issues without necessarily involving the revered INC institution, which represents the Ijaw interest and speaks for the Ijaw people.
Turnah also pleaded with Prof Okaba and the INC leadership to initiate robust peace moves to facilitate the restoration of suspended Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, and the state’s House of Assembly.
He said only a sincere apology and genuine reconciliation could yield positive results in the current Rivers political crisis.