In a fiery and unflinching statement, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has sounded a grave warning to Nigeria’s political elite: any attempt to oust Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, could ignite a chain reaction capable of shattering the fragile peace of the entire Niger Delta.
This warning follows last Friday’s controversial Supreme Court ruling, which upheld the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as the legitimate members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The INC described the judgment as not only unjust but a dangerous spark that could plunge the oil-rich region into chaos.
Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the President of the INC, minced no words in his statement released Monday evening. For the Ijaw nation, this is not just about politics — it’s about decades of sacrifice, betrayal, and a fight for survival in a region that fuels Nigeria’s economy yet remains politically marginalized.
A History of Sacrifices and Betrayal
Prof. Okaba took Nigerians on a painful walk down memory lane, reminding the nation that the Ijaw people have bled, strategized, and sacrificed to shape the political destiny of Rivers State — only to now face exclusion and suppression.
He recalled how, in 1999, it was an Ijaw leader, Chief Marshall Harry, who defied the odds to secure the PDP gubernatorial ticket for Dr. Peter Odili. Harry’s relentless efforts even secured Odili’s victory over his Kalabari opponent, Chief Ebenezer Isokariari of the All Peoples Party.
But the cost of political loyalty soon became apparent. In 2003, when Marshall Harry dared to back Sergeant Awuse’s ambition for the governorship, he paid the ultimate price — assassination. This, Okaba said, marked the beginning of a series of political wounds inflicted upon the Ijaw people.
By 2007, the Ijaw nation once again played kingmaker, with leaders like Soboma George and Farrah Dagogo ensuring the emergence of Sir Celestine Omehia as governor. The cost? The death of Prince Igodo, a Kalabari-Ijaw warlord, who was slain during Omehia’s inauguration to “keep the peace.”
Even in 2011, when Rotimi Amaechi sought to install Pastor Tonye Cole as a federal minister, it was Dame Patience Jonathan — a proud Ijaw daughter — who intervened and ensured that Nyesom Wike got the slot instead. The Ijaw people, Okaba emphasized, have never turned their backs on the political evolution of Rivers State.
Now, The First Riverine Governor is Under Siege
After decades of watching from the sidelines, the riverine Ijaws finally saw one of their own — Siminalayi Fubara — ascend to power. Yet, barely months into his tenure, forces loyal to Nyesom Wike, an Ikwerre politician who has already completed his term, are working tirelessly to frustrate Fubara’s administration and possibly remove him from office.
Prof. Okaba declared, with thunderous clarity, that the Ijaw nation will defend Governor Fubara with every pint of blood in their veins. This, he said, is not just about Rivers State politics — it’s about respect, justice, and the right of the Ijaw people to lead the state they helped to build.
A Nation Ready to Resist
The INC President warned that if Governor Fubara’s tenure is truncated by the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly or any external force, the INC cannot guarantee the continued peace of the Niger Delta. This, Okaba stressed, is no idle threat — it is a grim reality rooted in the Ijaw people’s growing sense of injustice.
He highlighted that while the Ijaws have consistently worked to stabilize the region, boosting oil production and revenue for Nigeria, the same wealth is now being weaponized against them. This pattern, Okaba noted, extends beyond Rivers to other Niger Delta states — from Ondo to Edo, Delta to Akwa Ibom — where Ijaws are increasingly sidelined.
A Call to President Tinubu — and a Warning
Prof. Okaba urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene decisively before Rivers State becomes the epicenter of a new wave of unrest. This is not ordinary political squabbling, he stressed — this is about the survival of the Ijaw nation, a people 40 million strong across the globe, who will not stand idly by as their long-awaited turn at leadership is cut short.
While the INC advised Governor Fubara to work with all constitutionally recognized arms of government, Okaba made it clear that if Fubara is illegally removed, the Niger Delta could once again become a boiling cauldron of unrest, crippling oil production and shaking the foundation of Nigeria’s economy.
The battle lines are drawn, and the message is clear: touch Governor Fubara, and the Niger Delta will explode.
