Udengs Eradiri, the former governorship candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in Bayelsa State during the 2023 elections, has urged the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to apologize to Nyesome Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Eradiri believes that Fubara’s incompetence is the root cause of the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State and advised him to ease tensions by seeking forgiveness from Wike.

Eradiri criticized Fubara for using ethnic issues in his political problems and questioned how Fubara had supported the Ijaw people, especially in Rivers State. He pointed out that many Ijaw leaders and members of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) had not been given important roles in Fubara’s government, yet Fubara was now seeking Ijaw support.

He went on to suggest that Fubara should “kneel before Wike and beg for forgiveness,” as others in the past have done when seeking Wike’s help.

Eradiri also criticized the Ijaw National Congress (INC) for handling the situation poorly and warned them against mixing politics with ethnic issues. He emphasized that the INC should stay above politics and not support governors who undermine its authority.