Wike-Fubara crisis was PDP affair, not Ijaw struggle — Ex-IYC president

Former President of the Ijaw Youths Council Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, has categorically stated that the political crisis between former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor Siminalayi Fubara was an internal party matter within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and had no bearing on the interests of the Ijaw ethnic nationality. This assertion comes amid ongoing discussions around the fallout from the leadership transition in the state. Eradiri made these remarks in Port Harcourt, emphasizing that he had previously voiced similar concerns during the crisis, which led to backlash from certain Ijaw leaders who he claimed sought to leverage the situation for personal political gains. He noted that some individuals attempted to frame the conflict along ethnic lines, thereby exploiting tensions for their own advantage. According to Eradiri, this approach not only distorted the true nature of the dispute but also strained relations between the Ijaw and other ethnic communities in Rivers State. He praised Fubara for returning to his political roots, acknowledging the difficulties that arose due to the failure of key figures to heed warnings. Eradiri stressed that the crisis was fundamentally a PDP issue, asserting that it was not rooted in ethnicity. “The Rivers State crisis was a PDP crisis. It had nothing to do with ethnicity,” he reiterated. Eradiri also challenged the notion that Fubara's selection as governor was a collective decision by the Ijaw people. He pointed out that Wike did not convene meetings with Ijaw leaders prior to appointing Fubara. “If Wike had called a meeting of the Ijaw ethnic nationality and announced his decision to make an Ijaw governor, I am sure Fubara would not have been the Ijaw choice. Ijaw people would have gathered to make a collective choice. Nobody knew Fubara in the political arena,” he explained. Furthermore, Eradiri dismissed the characterization of Wike as an adversary of the Ijaw community. He recalled Wike’s steadfast support for the Ijaw during and after the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan. “When President Goodluck Jonathan left power and there was heat, Wike was the one who stood solidly behind and supported the Ijaw people. And all of a sudden the same man was tagged an enemy of Ijaw people. I said no,” he remarked. Eradiri also highlighted the impact of the crisis on Ijaw political dynamics, suggesting that the conflict exposed vulnerabilities among those who aligned themselves with Fubara. He questioned the extent to which Fubara had considered the broader implications of his actions, particularly given his lack of extensive political experience. “Once you are not schooled politically and suddenly they give you a political office, it is usually difficult because you will use your first office to start learning how to play politics. If you allow ego to enter, you won’t learn, but you will create more problems. That is what has happened in Rivers State,” he cautioned. In addition, Eradiri criticized Fubara for allowing the disagreement with Wike to escalate, attributing part of the blame to the former governor’s influence in Fubara’s career trajectory. “Fubara should be faulted because Wike picked him from the NYSC level till where he is today. So, nobody should know Wike more than Fubara. For him to have started striking within one year of assuming office, it means he was playing with fire,” he added. Looking ahead, Eradiri expressed optimism about the potential of Major Jack as a running mate in the upcoming 2027 governorship election, urging Ijaw stakeholders to unite behind his candidacy. He emphasized the importance of having a strong Ijaw political figure in Rivers State to help mend the fractures caused by the crisis. “We need an Ijaw political leader in Rivers now. And if Major Jack becomes the deputy governor in Rivers, he should become the rallying point for the people. He should start reaching out to douse the tension,” he concluded.