The Ijaw communities in Rivers State under the auspices of Rivers Ijaw Forum (RIF) has declared their support for the election of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar come 2019.
Leader of RIF, Chief Ferdinand Anabraba, who disclosed this while addressing a press conference in Port Harcourt Monday, said Ijaw communities also declared support for the re-election bid of Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
Alabraba said: “Governor Wike has given Rivers people purposeful leadership and endeared himself to all in many ways. Wike exemplified good governance, anchored on inclusiveness and transparency, which has effectively mobilized and united the people of Rivers state for progress and development.
“The Ijaw Ethnic Nationality is robust enough (well educated, intelligent, politically aware and humane) to know our interest and when to fight for that interest. The Ijaw Ethnic Nationality does not need an outside to determine our interest and when to fight it; much more when such self-acclaimed political avatar are known and visible antagonist to Ijaw national and local interest.
“Rivers Ijaw people know their true sons and friends and cannot be deceived by those” latter-days saints whose actions have been detrimental to the Ijaw interest and who pretend to support the Ijaw only when they need our vote.
“The Ijaw Ethnic Nationality also recalled with deep appreciation, the strong bond of brotherhood amongst the the people of the Niger/ Delta as manifested in the noble role played chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike the PDP leader in Rivers state, who,when it became necessary to be our brother’s keeper rose to the occasion and stood by our Ijaw son President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2015.
“The Ijaw Ethnic Nationality cannot forget so soon that in 2015, the same Rivers APC leadership thoroughly betrayed the Ijaw when it mattered most and collaborated actively in the conspiracy to scuttle the second term ambition of an Ijaw son president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.”
