The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and discourage the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, and his supporters from their efforts to oust Rivers State Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
In a statement issued by its President, Prof Benjamin Okaba, the INC criticized what it labeled as evident favoritism by security agencies towards the faction led by Martins Amaewhule, loyal to Wike. They highlighted the security agencies’ protection of a session held by this faction, despite a court order mandating all parties to uphold the status quo and refrain from official actions until further notice.
Expressing concern, the INC emphasized their observation that despite prior interventions by Tinubu and other key stakeholders, Wike remained determined to push for Fubara’s impeachment.
“Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, we implore you once again to call Mr. Wike and those Federal Government agencies and agents who are putting Rivers State at risk of anarchy, to order. Such elements are inimical to the stability of Nigeria sooner or later,” Okaba said.
The Ijaw leader said, “Mr Wike has also featured on several network TV stations where he made very provocative statements and scandalous claims against Governor Fubara; accusing the governor of attempting to ‘take over’ his ‘structure’, openly taunting him as an ingrate who is lacking in integrity as well as asserting without investigation that the governor masterminded the burning down of the hallowed chamber of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Is Mr. Wike at liberty to make scandalous, libelous, and inciting comments without fear of sanction from the security agencies or even Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu?
“Is Wike the C-in-C of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, such that those on national assignments in Rivers State now act according to his whims and caprices or those he supports, in the push to impeach or make Rivers State ungovernable for His Excellency Governor Siminialayi Fubara, as he publicly boasted? As we glean from history, can law-abiding citizens suffer such intolerable lawlessness orchestrated by one man, indefinitely?
“We, therefore, submit to Mr. President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that Ijaw National Congress Worldwide, its affiliate bodies, substructures, and activists are direly concerned by the impunity and indecorous conduct by a Minister of the Federal Government and the apparent connivance of those who ought to curb his excesses.”
The apex pan-Ijaw socio-cultural organization commended Fubara for his calm and mature disposition in the face of insults and provocations by the FCT minister, noting that “such conduct is becoming of a civilized leader and statesman.”
Okaba also lauded the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and other stakeholders who were putting the interest of the state above other interests.
He urged all Rivers people and well-meaning Nigerians to stand with Fubara “to protect our democratic institutions and ensure that justice and the will of the masses prevail.”
