Description

…As INC leaders rejection suspension of Fubara

Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has suggested a dialogue system to be initiated by the Presidency and the National Assembly leaders to return Gov Sim Fubara of Rivers State within a short period.

Diri who made the suggestion at the ‘Emergency Stakeholders’ Congress of the Ijaw National Congress’ at the Sani Abacha Hall of the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, made it clear that Ijaws were not at war with the Federal Government or Mr President. He rather urged the President to set up a panel to reconcile the different parties to the dispute in Rivers State.

He made the appeal on Wednesday at the Emergency Stakeholders’ Congress of the Ijaw National Congress, at the Sani Abacha Hall of the Ijaw House in Yenagoa.

Diri urged Tinubu and the National Assembly to constitute a committee of eminent personalities to immediately intervene and restore peace and bring the legally constituted government back to office in Rivers State.

His words: “Again, l restate that this is the time for dialogue because it is a lose-lose situation for people of Rivers State. l urge Mr. President and the National Assembly to waste no time in inaugurating a committee of eminent personalities that will immediately intervene and bring back peace and the constituted government of Rivers State back to office.His words: “Again, l restate that this is the time for dialogue because it is a lose-lose situation for people of Rivers State. l urge Mr. President and the National Assembly to waste no time in inaugurating a committee of eminent personalities that will immediately intervene and bring back peace and the constituted government of Rivers State back to office.

Read also: Rivers State Sole Administrator suspends political appointees

“The South-South Governors’ Forum, of which I am chairman, had urged the president to reconsider his stance and allow for dialogue among the parties.”

He maintained that the Ijaw people remain committed to the unity and progress of Nigeria and as one of the major and largest ethnic groups, alongside other ethnic nationalities, had made immense sacrifices for the country’s unity and prosperity.

“Our contributions, political, economic, and environmental, are undeniable. We should continue to advocate for justice, fairness, and inclusivity within a united Nigeria. I urge all Ijaws, especially our vibrant youths, to exercise restraint, maintain peace, and steer clear of actions that could escalate tensions. Our future is best secured through engagement, dialogue, and strategic partnerships.In a welcome address, Benjamin Okaba, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) President, appreciated Ijaw men and women of good conscience, Niger Deltans, Nigerians and the international community for their unflinching support for justice and equity in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.‎Okaba stressed that the position of emergency rule and suspension of any governor by President Tinubu, under whatever guise, constituted a great assault on the principles of justice, democratic governance and the sanctity of the people’s mandate.

He noted that the infractions on the rights of the Ijaws in Rivers, who had been denied the governorship position for over 24 years, was not a partisan issue, but a fundamental challenge to the constitutional framework that guides the rights and economy of every Nigerian citizen.


‎Okaba added that the gathering was not another talk shop, but to remind the Ijaws that their strength was not merely numerical, but derived from the bond of unity and love for their motherland.

The INC leader also urged the FG to reconsider its actions and respect the ‎sovereignty of the Rivers people.In her keynote address, Annkio Briggs, rights activist, said the forefathers of the Ijaw nation like King Koko of Nembe, King Jaja of Opobo, Isaac Adaka Boro and others that fought for the rights of their descendants, foresaw the happenings of today and noted that it was now the responsibility of the people to safeguard and improve on what they hold in their custody.

Briggs emphasised that it would be a great disfavour if the current generation of the Ijaw nation does not do better than their forebears.

She commended those that stood with Rivers State since 2023 when Gov Siminalayi Fubara was sworn in, describing it as true Ijaw unity.

Briggs extolled the qualities of the late Edwin Clark, saying he always led from the front, preempting the oppressors of the Ijaws.

She also appreciated the INC for always standing for truth and justice, adding that any other Ijaw group outside the INC, particularly in Rivers, was only speaking for themselves and not for the Ijaw people.The one-day stakeholders meeting was attended by prominent Ijaw leaders, including Alfred Diete-Spiff, Rufus Ada-George, Gabriel Tobi.