By John Ogele
Political tension in Rivers State has reached a boiling point as prominent Ijaw groups, including the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), have strongly warned against the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. These groups have vowed to fiercely defend Fubara’s mandate, stating that any attempt to remove him would destabilize the entire Niger Delta region and disrupt oil production.
This warning comes as the 48-hour ultimatum issued by the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly for Governor Fubara to resubmit the 2025 budget expires today. The deadline follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Assembly’s authority, fueling a political confrontation between the governor and lawmakers loyal to his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on February 28, 2025, not only confirmed the Assembly’s legitimacy but also led to the freezing of federal allocations to the state and nullified the October 5, 2024, local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
At its first session following the Supreme Court ruling, the Assembly demanded that Fubara present the 2025 budget within 48 hours, before its scheduled recess starting on March 7, 2025. The expiration of this ultimatum today has further exacerbated the political standoff.
The Assembly also criticized Fubara’s decision to instruct the Heads of Local Government Administration to oversee the operations of the 23 local councils, a move they described as overreaching. In anticipation of the Assembly’s pronouncement today, the INC, IYC, and other regional groups have warned that any attempt to impeach Fubara would lead to a crisis in the region.
INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, condemned the impeachment threats, asserting that the Ijaw people would not tolerate the undermining of their first riverine governor in decades. He criticized the Supreme Court’s recent ruling, which he argued ignored the historical and political sacrifices made by the Ijaw people in the governance of Rivers State. Okaba warned that the removal of Fubara would have severe consequences not only for the Niger Delta but for national peace and economic stability, particularly concerning oil production.
Okaba reminded the public of the Ijaw people’s long-standing contributions to the governance of Rivers State, recalling key figures and moments from the past, such as Chief Marshal Harry’s pivotal role in securing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket for Dr. Peter Odili in 1999, and the political and personal sacrifices of Ijaw leaders like Soboma George and Farrah Dagogo. He also noted that in 2011, Ijaw leaders influenced key appointments, yet despite these contributions, political elites from the Ikwerre ethnic group seemed determined to undermine Fubara’s leadership.
The INC President firmly stated that any attempt to remove Fubara would be resisted by the Ijaw nation, adding that the Ijaw people would defend their mandate “with every pint of blood in their veins.” He also lamented the political marginalization faced by the Ijaw people, not just in Rivers State but across the Niger Delta, and called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing crisis.
The IYC also expressed its opposition to Fubara’s impeachment, warning that any such attempt would be met with resistance from the youth in the region. The apex Ijaw Youth Body IYC, criticized the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Rivers State local government elections, describing it as unfair and biased. The group called on the apex court to review its judgment, stating that it had further agitated the youths of the Niger Delta, who have supported the federal government and worked to maintain peace in the region.
The IYC also issued a strong warning to the Rivers State Assembly, stating that any move to destabilize the state would be met with forceful resistance. In a statement issued in Port Harcourt, IYC leaders expressed their deep concern over the situation, claiming that the ultimatum to the governor was part of a calculated effort to create chaos. They emphasized that Fubara’s leadership was the will of the people and that any attempt to remove him would be an affront to democracy.
The IYC called on President Tinubu and the National Security Adviser to intervene immediately to prevent a potential crisis in Rivers State, stressing the importance of maintaining stability for both the state’s governance and the nation’s oil production.
Police and military responses to the threats have been muted. The Rivers State Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, declined to comment on the situation, referring inquiries to the Commissioner of Police, whose office could not be reached for comment. The Nigerian Navy also avoided commenting on the situation, while the Army maintained that the issue was a political one.
Meanwhile, the RSIEC has announced plans to hold a stakeholders' meeting on March 5, 2025, to outline a new timetable and guidelines for a rescheduled local government election in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling. This comes as some former local government chairmen who were removed in 2015, following a similar legal battle, have vowed to resume office based on recent court judgments that invalidated their previous sacking. These former leaders, including Benson Imie and Reginald Ukwoma, insist they are the rightful occupants of the local government offices.
In response, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has urged peace, calling for dialogue and non-violent means to resolve grievances. Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the NDDC Managing Director, emphasized the need for proactive conflict management, but some regional leaders have dismissed such calls as empty gestures, accusing the NDDC of neglecting the real issues that cause unrest in the region, such as marginalization and deprivation.
As the situation continues to develop, the people of Rivers State and the Ijaw nation await the next steps in the unfolding political crisis, which has far-reaching implications for governance, security, and oil production in the Niger Delta.
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