By Odie Ramon, Yenagoa.
The Watchdog for Progressive Ijaw (WPI) has accused the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, of attempting to create a crisis in the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide.
WPI reacted after Fubara received Dr. Theophilus Alaye in Government House on December 11 and described him as the President of the IYC.
WPI expressed shock and disbelief that Fubara recently recognized Alaye as the President of the council, describing it as the height of indiscretion.
WPI, in a statement signed on Tuesday by its Coordinator, Lambert Olambo, queried Fubara’s decision to receive Theophilus in Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt, and to address him as the IYC President.
Olambo said by such a singular act, Fubara
had betrayed the confidence reposed in him as a leader expected to galvanize and unite the youths in the IYC.
Describing the governor’s action as a betrayal of his office, Olambo queried the leadership style of Fubara saying his recent actions had shown him as the aggressor in the ongoing political crisis in the state.
He said as a governor, Fubara was supposed to have conducted due diligence and be abreast of the issues in IYC before taking any decision.
He said Fubara acted on hearsay, blackmails, and gossip and conjured premonition instead of on credible information expected of someone occupying such an exalted office.
Olambo said there was no doubt that Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Jnr. Remained the authentic and only President of the IYC and that any other person parading himself in a similar capacity is an impostor.
He said Lokpobiri was properly elected in a constitutionally valid congress and had been recognized by all the structures in IYC and stakeholders of the Ijaw nation as the incumbent President of IYC.
Olambo said the governor should also have known that Theophilus was challenging the authenticity of Lokpobiri as IYC President in the court and the matter was sub judice.
He said it was only common knowledge that Lokpobiri must be treated in his capacity as the subsisting IYC boss pending the judgment of the court.
Olambo said the decision of the governor to jump the gun and refer to Theophilus as IYC President was reckless and provocative.
He said: “We want to tell Governor Fubara that there is no crisis in IYC and that there is only one President of the council and the only authentic and subsisting President is Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Jnr.
“Jonathan Lokpobiri has been recognized by all the structures of IYC and stakeholders in the Ijaw nation. There is no amount of lies, propaganda, and falsehoods based on the political crisis in Rivers State that can change that fact.
“We are only disappointed that Fubara has descended to the arena maybe for his political convenience. We want to warn that IYC is not a political organization and should not be dragged into Rivers politics”.
