By Abigail Philip David
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has strongly opposed any move to impeach Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, warning that such an action could destabilize the Niger Delta region.
In a statement issued Monday, INC President Prof. Benjamin Okaba condemned the recent Supreme Court ruling that upheld the legitimacy of 27 lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. He described the verdict as a threat to regional stability, accusing it of disregarding the political sacrifices made by the Ijaw people in governing Rivers State.
Okaba cautioned that undermining Governor Fubara could have severe consequences for national peace and economic stability, particularly in the oil-rich region. He emphasized the Ijaw people’s historical contributions to state leadership, citing instances where Ijaw leaders played key roles in shaping past administrations.
He further accused the political elite from the Ikwerre ethnic group of attempting to derail the tenure of the first riverine governor in decades. Declaring that the Ijaw nation would resist any move against Fubara, Okaba warned that the INC could not guarantee continued peace in the Niger Delta if the governor’s mandate was jeopardized.
While urging Governor Fubara to collaborate with all arms of government, the INC President called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, stressing that the Rivers crisis should not be dismissed as mere political rivalry. He warned that any attempt to oust Fubara could lead to unrest, potentially affecting oil production and national revenue.
Okaba also highlighted the broader issue of Ijaw marginalization beyond Rivers State, citing political exclusion in Ondo, Edo, Delta, and Akwa Ibom. He reaffirmed that with over 40 million Ijaw people worldwide, they would not stand idly by while their interests are undermined in Nigerian politics.
