The political crisis in Rivers State has taken a new turn as former executive chairmen of Ijaw-dominated local government areas have strongly condemned threats of violence following the Supreme Court’s judgment on the state’s leadership turmoil.
The ex-chairmen, who previously served as campaign coordinators for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, have called on security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Security (DSS), to enforce the Supreme Court ruling and ensure stability in the state.
The Supreme Court Verdict: A Path to Clarity or More Chaos?
The Supreme Court’s ruling was expected to resolve the ongoing political crisis, particularly concerning the legitimacy of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the status of local government chairmen. However, rather than bringing peace, the judgment has sparked fresh tensions, with some groups threatening to retaliate if Governor Fubara faces impeachment.
The Association of Local Government Nigeria (ALGON) criticized Fubara for rejecting a Presidential intervention aimed at resolving the crisis. They also reaffirmed their stance that, despite the aborted tenure extension, they remain the legitimate chairmen of their respective LGAs.
“Using the Ijaw Identity to Fuel Crisis is Dangerous” – Former Chairmen Fire Back
In a strongly worded statement, the former chairmen condemned threats of violence allegedly issued by certain Ijaw groups, particularly the Ijaw National Congress and factions of the Ijaw Youth Council.
“We are deeply concerned by the reckless threats coming from individuals and organizations using the Ijaw identity to instigate violence against the Federal Government,” they declared.
The leaders pointed to videos and press statements from notable figures, including Prof. Benjamin Okaba and Alhaji Mujaheed Asari Dokubo, who allegedly warned that any attempt to impeach Governor Fubara could jeopardize Nigeria’s energy security.
However, the former chairmen dismissed these threats as misguided and baseless, asking:
“Did the Supreme Court judgment call for Fubara’s impeachment? The answer is no. So why the threats? Where were these so-called defenders of Ijaw interests when Governor Fubara truncated our tenure and seized local government allocations—including those meant for fellow Ijaw leaders?”
They further accused Fubara of withholding salaries from state lawmakers and attempting to use the courts to unseat Assembly members, including ten Ijaw sons. “They were silent then because they were benefiting from the crisis. Now, they want to drag the entire Ijaw nation into their personal battles,” they argued.
Call for Peace and Obedience to Supreme Court Ruling
The former chairmen emphasized that the Supreme Court’s ruling invalidated the local government elections due to procedural irregularities, reaffirmed the legitimacy of the Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, and directed Governor Fubara to uphold constitutional provisions.
Given this, they urged Nigerians to disregard any threats of violence, warning that ethnicizing the crisis could create unnecessary divisions.
“Rivers State is a diverse state with multiple ethnic groups. We must stop using our Ijaw identity as a tool to threaten national stability simply because of the oil resources in our region,” they stated.
Security Agencies Urged to Take Action
The statement concluded with a call to security agencies—including the Nigerian Police, DSS, and the Military—to ensure the swift and peaceful implementation of the Supreme Court ruling.
They further pledged to mobilize their communities to protect vital oil installations, reassuring Nigerians that the Ijaw people would not allow a few individuals to jeopardize national peace and economic stability.
“At this critical time, we must ensure Governor Fubara does not engage in any actions that could justify impeachment. Impeachment is a constitutional process—not an ethnic battle. It is time for peace, not chaos,” they concluded.
The Road Ahead: Peace or Political War?
With tensions escalating and both sides standing their ground, the coming weeks will determine whether Rivers State can find a path to unity or slide deeper into political strife. Will Governor Fubara heed these warnings and embrace reconciliation, or will the standoff continue to threaten the stability of the state? Only time will tell.
