Bayelsa State Commissioner for Ijaw National Affairs, Elder Patrick Uche Owaji Erasmus, has commended the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and leaders of political parties in the state on the emergence of former Accountant-General of the state, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, and other citizens of the state of Ijaw extraction as gubernatorial candidates in the 2023 general elections.
Erasmus made the commendation while fielding questions from newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, on the sidelines of his being part of the Bayelsa State Governor’s entourage to the Ijaws in diaspora conference recently held in New Jersey, United States of America.
He noted that the American trip afforded him the opportunity of having firsthand information on issues concerning Ijaws resident in the American continent, saying, Ijaws worldwide were happy on the emergence of Rivers-Ijaws as governorship candidates in the oil rich state.
The Andoni-born Bayelsa Commissioner, who also lauded the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for his consistency and proactive stance on matters affecting Ijaws irrespective of their states of origin, stated that with the emergence of Siminialayi Fubara as the PDP gubernatorial standard bearer and others, he was confident that an Ijaw man would once again become Governor of the multi-ethnic state.
The commissioner restated that while successive executive governors of Bayelsa State had never abdicated their responsibilities as Governor-Generals of the Ijaw nation, Ijaws in all parts of the world believed that the victories of their brothers and sisters as governorship candidates in the primary elections of the dominant political parties in Rivers State would translate to victory for the best amongst them in the 2023 general elections.
He also stressed that the Rivers-Ijaw gubernatorial standard bearers were all people of proven integrity, whom he believes would bring their experiences and expertise to bear in the governance of the State when elected in the forthcoming polls.
“I want to commend the Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike, on the emergence of Sir SiminialayiFubara as the PDP governorship flag-bearer in the State. But I’d also like to commend other parties which have fielded Ijaw sons and daughters as their governorship candidates in the state.
“Ijaws have and are still contributing to the development of Rivers State in all ramifications. Ijaws occupy no fewer than nine LGAs in Rivers State and it’s our belief that with the emergence of our Sons and daughters, brothers and sisters as gubernatorial standard bearers in the forthcoming polls, our unity would once again be demonstrated in our quest to produce the Governor of the State.
“But I wouldn’t fail to thank my boss, the Miracle Governor of Bayelsaa State, for his proactive and consistent stance on issues relating to Ijaws nationally and even in the diaspora.
“The recent Ijaw Diaspora conference in the United States has afforded us the opportunity to continue to inform the world as well as has kept us abreast of issues affecting our people in all parts of the world, especially in the Americas”, Erasmus said.