JONATHAN LOKPOBIRI: THE PRODIGAL SON, BY Donald Bimbo Ekerefa

BY Donald Bimbo Ekerefa

I watched without surprise but with disgust, the viral video where Jonathan Lokpobri tagged the efforts made by Ijaw leaders in the Rivers state political crises “misguided”.

I know several Ijaws who are beneficiaries of the federal government and even of the FCT minister who went mute throughout this period because of their affiliation with the government in one way or the other and I can’t blame them.

Some of these people are appointees while some are handling massive federal projects,

These people are earning far more than the peanut Jonathan is getting from Wike, but the least they could do for Ijaw nation was to keep mute and we respect that.

Jonathan’s constant display of betrayal in the name of loyalty to his paymaster with regards to the Rivers state political crises up to the extent of accusing Ijaw leaders of making misguided statements has earned him the place of a “prodigal son” in Ijaw nation.

Let’s take a look at Ijaw leaders who spoke up against Wike when he insulted The entire Ijaw nation whose comments are tagged “misguided” by Jonathan Lokpobri.

1. PA E.K Clark:

I watched with deep emotion, Pa Clark’s press conference on Rivers state crises, I didn’t even know it would be the last video of the Ijaw Legend I’ll see.

I saw how he sat perhaps with his last strength and ill health while his aid read his signed press statement which contained both warning and caution as well as advice and recommendations directed to the presidency.

This is one of the efforts Jonathan Lokpobri sees as “misguided” and unnecessary.

In fact, I learnt our beloved Pa Clark in his last words before joining our ancestors charged those around him to protect and defend The governor of Rivers state at all cost.

I was by my late father in his last moments, I also know my dad’s last projects which meant so much to him and so I know how to treat things that mattered to people like Pa Clark and concerns he took to heart during his last moments on earth.

It takes only a prodigal son to treat such things with disdain and flippancy, and even refer to them as “misguided”.

2. Prof. Benjamin Okaba, The president of Ijaw National congress.

At a time where we were struggling to swallow the bitter pill of insults given to us by the FCT minister, the INC president issued an “Ijaw-like” press statement, putting Wike where he belongs and restored our dignity and position,

but the prodigal son saw this as a misguided approach because it was contrary to his “cash out” agenda.

3. The Amayanabo of the Source, Alhaji Asari Dokubo.

This revered Ijaw freedom fighter have been at the forefront of this struggle, tackling the political tyranny from every possible angle, but Jonathan sees all these efforts as “misguided” and unnecessary.

4. Governor Duoye Diri.

The Bayelsa state governor played his part both as the governor General of Ijaw nation and as the chairman, South south PDP governors forum.

He was directly insulted by Nyesom Wike in a media chat which triggered reactions from every responsible Ijaw person, except the prodigal son who was bent on acting script given to him by his paymaster.

Jonathan claims the situation could have been handled with wisdom and we should have cautioned ourselves internally.

If I understand English well then this means that the root cause of the problem was within Ijaw nation and this suggests that Fubara was the problem.

The prodigal son also insinuated that it was a matter of strategic consultation.

Can somebody please ask Jonathan the kind of consultation he is referring to that the Ijaw leaders and elders didn’t do.

Or is it the type he gathered unknown youth leaders to go visit the Senate president in Abuja and collect his share of the national cake and travel out of the country for his endless vacation a few days later?.

In fact, the main cause of the problem is Wike Having people like Jonathan in Ijaw nation and using them to fight and destabilize Ijaw nation,

The problem is Jonathan being paid by Wike to thwart efforts and attempts to resist this madness from the onset.

Jonathan was busy telling his followers that Sim is not an Ijaw man.

He was busy creating Ijaw youth organizations for Wike in Rivers state through his chief of staff.

He was busy trying to install Wike’s loyalists in IYC zonal leadership even at the cost of innocent lives.

Today, Jonathan is mocking those that spoke up in defense of Ijaw existence.

He is saying in that very insulting video that he expected to see missiles flying after the governor was suspended and is asking where the Ijaw people that threatened Ikwere people are.

I was not surprised when I was informed by an insider in Jonathan’s camp of how Jonathan celebrated Fubara’s suspension, but insulting the entire Ijaw people of different category who fought hard against the tribally coloured political oppression in Rivers state is rebellion taken too far, especially, knowing that some of these people staked their name and reputation to support Jonathan Lokpobri and some even kept supporting him even when it was obvious that they were tricked into supporting an illegal imposter.

It is also disheartening to see that the scripted statement made by Jonathan in the video which is going viral in his effort to impress his paymaster and further prove his loyalty and keep his paychecks flowing in will be a mocking tool in the hands of our enemies, including the misinformed ones who see Jonathan Lokpobri as an Ijaw youth leader of some kind.

Even Wike, the mastermind of all the trouble in Rivers state have been played, his game plan have been highjacked, the state of emergency was not his strategy.

Does Jonathan think this will really end well for him?

Remember, when you sell your brother, even your buyer will not trust you.

Signed:

Donald Bimbo Ekerefa.

Leader of Niger Delta Creek Voice Movement.