Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State Governor, has told the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide that his team has defeated his enemies in the state.
He thanked the IYC for their brotherly support and urged the Ijaw nation to key into the celebration of the liberation of the state.
The governor made this statement while addressing the national and state leadership, IYC on a solidarity walk to the Government House in Port Harcourt on Thursday, May 16, to mark the 56 anniversary of the late Maj. Isaac Adaka Boro.
He also said that Adaka Boro genuinely stood for equity, justice, and fair play, and pursued his course to ensure liberation for the Ijaw people and their clans.
He stressed that every patriotic Rivers man is a liberator, adding that he was delighted to receive them on such auspicious day to re-enact the common purpose of liberation.
Fubara, who thanked the large crowd for responding to his call and standing by him, said there would not be any need to disrupt the peace.
He insisted that the enemies of the state had been defeated already.
He said: “Because he stood for that unique thing, even after his death, we still celebrate him because he was a liberator.
“Every Rivers man, it doesn’t matter whether you are Ijaw or upland, the most important thing is that every genuine Rivers man must be a liberator.
“And I’m happy that you have come here today. I have also received you because we have one common purpose: to liberate our dear State. We are not going back on that
“I am happy that you’ve told me this morning that when I call on you, you will respond. But there is nothing to call on you for. Because we have already defeated them.
“By the special grace of God, what they thought that they would have done to us while we were celebrating our one year in office, they are the ones sleeping with their two eyes open. It shows that we have the Ijaw blood. And what is that blood: it is the blood of action; less talk, more action.”
Fubara appealed to Ijaw youths to conduct themselves peacefully as they celebrated Boro Day, and also be good ambassadors of the entire Ijaw Nation.
He emphasized that it should be done in the same spirit that had enveloped the state, celebrating victory over his political detractors.
Fubara in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, promised to support the IYC Eastern Zone with a befitting Secretariat in Rivers.
In his speech, the national president of IYC, Jonathan Lokpobiri, described the day as historic because Ijaw people were meeting with their governor at Major Isaac Adaka Boro Day memorial.
Lokpobiri said it affirmed that the gods of the Ijaw people were at work, and warned all detractors to retrace their steps and allow the governor, who had the full mandate of the people, to discharge his duties to Rivers people.
He commended Fubara for his courage, bravery and commitment to good governance, insisting that his struggle and triumph resonated with the hope of all Ijaw people.
On his part, the chairman of IYC, eastern zone, Tamuno Kpokpo, clarified that their visit did not signify an ethnic war but to lend support in the protection of the interest and continuous development of Rivers state.
Kpokpo said IYC would stand to resist anybody or group of persons anywhere who dared to cause any distraction of governance in the state, and appealed that the governor be allowed to govern the state peacefully.
