By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has condemned the recent Supreme Court ruling on the lingering Rivers Crisis stressing that it could lead to widespread instability in the Niger Delta.
The group also warned against the impeachment of the state’s helmsman, Governor Siminalayi Fubara
This is contained in a statement signed by the INC president on Tuesday, Benjamin Okaba.
“If Governor Fubara’s tenure is truncated by the Amaewhule-led Assembly or anybody else, the INC cannot guarantee the sustenance of the current peace in the Niger Delta, nor the continued rise in oil production”. the statement reads in part.
Okaba also maintained that the Supreme Court judgment failed to acknowledge the historical and political sacrifices made by the Ijaw people in Rivers state.
The INC said the Ijaw people will defend Fubara “with every pint of blood in their veins”.
The statement added that while the INC has worked tirelessly to preserve peace in the Niger Delta, leading to increased oil production and revenue for the nation, the same resources are now being used to marginalise the Ijaw people.
The group asked President Bola Tinubu not to treat the ongoing political crisis in Rivers as “ordinary politicking”.
Recall that in a judgment delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court affirmed the judgment of a federal high court that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the accountant-general of the federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers state.
The court also ordered the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers state house of assembly and other elected members to resume sitting.
READ ALSO: Akpabio Felicitates With Muslims At Sallah, Drums Support For Tinubu’s Govt The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday felicitated with Muslims over the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations and urged Nigerians to support the administration of President Bola Tinubu. Akpabio, in a release, implored Muslims in Nigeria to imbibe the spirit of the season, reminding them that the “essence of the season which underscores our submission to the will of the Almighty God and the importance of sacrifice in our daily life should not be lost on us.” The Senate President recalled that since Tinubu’s inauguration began on May 29, he has taken some bold steps in the right direction. He noted that some of the actions may be inconveniencing, and hailed the resilience of Nigerians in the face of current challenges. “I salute the resilience and patriotism of Nigerians in the face of the current challenges facing our nation. We should all see it as part of the process of nation-building. “Even though the measures bring with them some inconveniences, I earnestly appeal to fellow Nigerians to look at the larger picture of the expected outcomes, be patient with the new government and give it their full support to take Nigeria out of the woods,” Akpabio added. See the full statement below: I most happily join Nigerians, particularly the Muslim Ummah, in celebrating this year’s Sallah festival. I especially rejoice with our dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he celebrates the first Eid-el-Kabir as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I also congratulate the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, and the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on the occasion of the celebrations of an important pillar of Islam.As we join our Muslim brethren to observe this day, the essence of the season which underscores our submission to the will of the Almighty God and the importance of sacrifice in our daily life should not be lost on us. I salute the resilience and patriotism of Nigerians in the face of the current challenges facing our nation. We should all see it as part of the process of nation building. In just a few weeks since his inauguration, President Tinubu has taken some bold steps which have been globally acclaimed as being in the right direction. Even though the measures bring with them some inconveniences, I earnestly appeal to fellow Nigerians to look at the larger picture of the expected outcomes, be patient with the new government and give it their full support to take Nigeria out of the woods. The 10th National Assembly will do its utmost to provide President Tinubu-led government complementary support through necessary legislative interventions for the benefit of Nigerians. We will, in the process, ensure inclusivity, fairness and justice for Nigerians through legislations. I wish you all a happy celebrations. Signed: Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON
The Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers assembly is loyal to Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) and immediate past governor of the state.
Wike and Fubara have been locked in a supremacy battle over control of the political structure of the state.
The rift between the incumbent governor and his predecessor has factionalized members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and by the extension prominent politicans, in the state to pro-Wike and pro-Fubara camps.
