It’s getting hotter than a Lagos traffic jam in Rivers State, and the drama is serving premium Nollywood vibes! As the budget ultimatum expires today, Ijaw groups are throwing down the gauntlet, warning the powers that be: “Mess with Fubara, and we’ll shut this place down!”
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) aren’t mincing words. They’ve made it clear that any move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara could set off a chain reaction that would shake the Niger Delta to its core.
The latest episode of the Rivers power tussle kicked off when the Supreme Court reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly. With their newfound legal backing, the lawmakers demanded Fubara resubmit the 2025 budget within 48 hours.
But let’s be real, this isn’t just about budgets and politics. This is a full-blown power play, with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (and former Rivers governor) Nyesom Wike lurking in the shadows like a Game of Thrones character plotting his next move.
Ijaw Nation kicking
INC President Prof. Benjamin Okaba isn’t buying the Assembly’s moves. He says it’s a straight-up attempt to undermine the first riverine governor in decades
“If they come for Fubara, there will be no peace in the Niger Delta,” Okaba warned. “And if there’s no peace, say goodbye to steady oil production.”
Throwing history into the mix, Okaba reminded everyone how the Ijaw people have been the backbone of Rivers State’s governance for years. From political maneuvering in 1999 to assassinations and betrayals in the 2000s, the Ijaw have played kingmaker time and time again. So now that one of their own is finally at the helm, they’re not about to let him get pushed out like an extra in a bad sequel.
The Ijaw Youth Council isn’t playing either. Their Worldwide President, Dr. Theophilus Alaye, didn’t sugarcoat things. He called the Supreme Court’s recent ruling “provocative and laughable,” accusing the judiciary of dancing to Wike’s drumbeat.
“If Fubara is forced out, Rivers will burn. The youths are ready, and we won’t sit back while political gangsters take out our governor.”
The IYC, Eastern Zone, echoed the same energy, warning that if Rivers is destabilized, the economy will take a nosedive. “If Rivers is starved of its rightful funds, Nigeria will feel the heat. No oil, no money—simple!” they declared.
er there’s unrest!” she fumed.
