PORT HARCOURT: Tensions in Rivers State have heightened as Ijaw organizations, including the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), issued a stern warning against any attempt to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
These groups have pledged to defend Fubara’s mandate, cautioning that his removal could destabilize the Niger Delta and disrupt oil production in the region.
This warning follows the expiration of a 48-hour ultimatum set by the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly, demanding that Fubara resubmit the 2025 budget for approval.
The Assembly’s move comes in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling on Friday, February 28, 2025, which reaffirmed its legitimacy, intensifying the power struggle between Fubara and lawmakers aligned with his predecessor, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The Supreme Court also ordered the withholding of state allocations and nullified the October 5, 2024, local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission.
Exercising its authority, the Assembly, in its first session post-judgment on Monday, March 3, 2025, directed Fubara to present the budget within 48 hours, as it plans to commence a 12-week recess on Friday, March 7, 2025. The deadline expires today, March 5, 2025.
The Assembly also criticized Fubara’s directive instructing Heads of Local Government Administration to assume control of the 23 council headquarters in the state.
In anticipation of the Assembly’s pronouncement, the INC, IYC, and other groups have warned that any move to remove Fubara would trigger a crisis.
INC President Prof. Benjamin Okaba strongly condemned the impeachment threats, stating that the Ijaw people would not tolerate any attempt to undermine their first riverine governor in decad
Read also:
Okaba criticized the Supreme Court ruling, arguing that it disregarded the historical and political sacrifices made by the Ijaw people in governing Rivers State.
He cautioned that any attempt to unseat Fubara could have severe consequences for national peace and economic stability, particularly in the crude oil and gas-rich Niger Delta.
“If Governor Fubara’s tenure is cut short by the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly or any other entity, the INC cannot guarantee the continued peace in the Niger Delta, nor the sustained increase in oil production, Okaba warned.
Recalling the Ijaw people’s contributions to Rivers State politics, he referenced key historical moments, including the roles played by Chief Marshal Harry in securing the PDP ticket for Dr. Peter Odili in 1999 and subsequent political sacrifices made by Ijaw leaders.
He lamented that despite these efforts, a political elite from the Ikwerre ethnic group was now attempting to frustrate the first riverine governor in decades.
Vowing to protect Fubara, Okaba declared that the Ijaw nation would defend him “with every pint of blood in their veins.”
He further expressed frustration that while the INC had worked to maintain peace in the Niger Delta—leading to increased oil production and national revenue—the same resources were being used to marginalize the Ijaw people.
Okaba noted that this pattern of political exclusion extended beyond Rivers State to Ondo, Edo, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene, emphasizing that the political crisis in Rivers State should not be dismissed as mere political maneuvering.
With over 40 million Ijaw people worldwide, Okaba warned that any attempt to sideline them in Nigerian politics would not be tolerated.
The IYC also called for caution, warning those seeking to exploit the Supreme Court judgment to destabilize Rivers State to tread carefully.
IYC President Worldwide, Dr. Theophilus Alaye, criticized the Supreme Court’s decision, particularly its nullification of the Rivers State local government elections, calling it provocative and inconsistent.
Alaye expressed concern that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s repeated boasts about an impending “tsunami” in Rivers State suggested that the apex court’s ruling was politically motivated.
He urged the Supreme Court to reconsider its judgment, warning that it had agitated Ijaw youths who had so far maintained peace and supported the Tinubu-led administration.
The IYC, Eastern Zone, also warned against attempts to destabilize Rivers State, vowing to resist any effort to undermine Fubara’s government.
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt and jointly signed by its Chairman, Datolu Sukubo, and Secretary, Tamunokuro Dango, the group stated that the purported 48-hour ultimatum was part of a calculated effort to create chaos and impeach the governor.
“This is not only an attack on our leadership but also an affront to the will of the Rivers people who entrusted their governance to one of our own,” the statement read.
The IYC pledged to resist any attempt to rob Fubara of his mandate, calling on President Tinubu and the National Security Adviser to intervene to prevent Rivers State from descending into crisis.
The group further warned that any attempt to withhold Rivers State’s allocation would harm civil servants and developmental projects.
“If Rivers State is denied its economic rights to serve the interests of a few, we will also deny Nigeria access to its economic resources,” the IYC cautioned.
Security Forces React
When asked about the Ijaw groups’ threats to disrupt oil production, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, declined to comment, directing inquiries to the Commissioner of Police, who was unavailable for response.
Similarly, when asked if the Navy would tolerate attacks on oil installations, service spokesperson Cmdr. A. Adams-Aliu dismissed the threats as speculative, affirming the Navy’s commitment to its constitutional duties.
The Nigerian Army’s 6 Division Acting Deputy Director of Public Relations, Lt. Col. Jonah Danjuma, also declined to comment, citing the issue as political.
RSIEC Announces Rerun Plans
Following the Supreme Court’s nullification of the October 5, 2024, local government elections, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has announced plans for a rerun.
RSIEC Chairman Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.) stated that a stakeholder meeting on March 5, 2025, would outline the timetable and guidelines for the upcoming elections.
Ex-LG Chairmen Seek Reinstatement
Meanwhile, local government chairmen sacked in 2015 have announced plans to resume office following an Appeal Court ruling that overturned their dismissal.
At a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the ex-chairmen declared their intention to reclaim their offices, arguing that the Supreme Court’s ruling created vacancies they were entitled to fill.
Benson Imie, former chairman of Andoni LG, insisted that the 2015-elected officials were the rightful administrators of the councils.
His counterpart from Etche LG, Reginald Ukwoma, asserted that they did not need to be sworn in again, as they had already taken their oaths before being removed.
NDDC Calls for Peace
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, urged Niger Delta communities to embrace peaceful engagement rather than violent agitation.
During a capacity-building program on conflict management in Port Harcourt, Ogbuku emphasized the need for intellectual dialogue over violence.
However, some community leaders dismissed the NDDC initiative as ineffective, accusing the agency of neglect and mismanagement.
The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Oladimeji, criticized the government for depriving host communities of oil benefits, while Niger Delta Women Coordinator Chinwe Njoku accused the NDDC of fueling conflicts through biased employment and contract policies.
Njoku argued that host communities were sidelined in employment and development projects, further exacerbating unrest in the region.
