Ijaw Nation Pressures Tinubu: Set Up Crisis Panel, Caution Wike Over Rivers Tensions

President Bola Tinubu has been called upon by the Ijaw National Congress (INC) to form a committee to address the political issue in Rivers state.

Additionally, the group urged the president to summon Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike to order.

The INC expressed concerns over the imposition of a state of emergency and the suspension of the governor, deputy governor, and members of the state house of assembly in a statement released during a stakeholders’ meeting on March 26.

Signed by national secretary Ebipamowei Wodu and INC president Benjamin Okaba, the communiqué characterised the Rivers conflict as a calculated attempt to incite and destabilise the Ijaw people.

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“The Ijaws are not fighting with the Federal Government under the leadership of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), neither are we fighting with any ethnic nationalities,” the communique reads.

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“We have always been the glue that has bonded the nation together and therefore demand that we be equally treated with respect, fairness, equity and justice in the affairs of the Nation.”

The INC stated that although the president is authorised under the constitution to proclaim a state of emergency, he is not authorised to suspend the governor, deputy governor, members of the state house of assembly, or choose a single administrator.

The congress demanded a reversal of the suspension and urged Tinubu to “urgently set up a Committee of Eminent Nigerians to resolve the political impasse in Rivers State”.

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The INC also condemned “uninformed, misguided, and disrespectful utterances” by Wike “against the Ijaws”.

The congress expressed concern that Wike’s utterances were made while Ijaw leaders and other eminent elders and leaders of the Niger Delta were engaging Tinubu on peacefully resolving the crisis.

“We therefore call on the president to call to order his political appointees, especially Nyesom Wike, as further denigrating utterances from him might be misconstrued as Nyesom Wike speaking on behalf of Mr. President and his Government,” the communique reads.

“We advise him to stop forthwith every form of hate speech and denigration of any ethnic nationality that could lead to disharmony, disrespect and chaos in the country.

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“The Ijaw Nation has resolved that any further attempt to undermine and/or relegate our societal standing will be met with utmost resistance in the form of exploring any and every available legitimate and peaceful means to seek redress.”