Ijaw Youths reject state of emergency in Rivers, blame Wike for political crisis

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has strongly rejected the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing the move as unnecessary and politically motivated.

Reacting to the announcement made on Tuesday, IYC President Dr. Alaye Theophilus stated that there was no justification for the emergency declaration, arguing that the crisis in Rivers State was not severe enough to warrant such a drastic measure.

Theophilus accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of orchestrating the conflict between the executive and legislative arms of government in Rivers State in a bid to assert control over Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

He further alleged that the recent attack on the Trans-Niger oil pipeline in Ogoni was a calculated act by detractors to create grounds for the state of emergency.

“We will never accept the decision of Mr. President to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State. This crisis has been engineered by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. We urge the President to reconsider this decision,” Theophilus said.

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He claimed that the presidency had long planned the emergency declaration to benefit Wike, adding: “It is unheard of for the President to declare a state of emergency in the 21st century when the crisis could still be peacefully resolved. While Governor Fubara has been advocating peace, Wike and the House of Assembly members have remained confrontational.”

Despite the growing tension, Theophilus urged Ijaw youths to remain peaceful while calling on President Tinubu to reverse the decision in the interest of the state.

Meanwhile, the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, also criticised the state of emergency pronouncement, arguing that it violated Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the proper procedure for such a declaration.

“The President was too hasty in declaring the state of emergency in Rivers State. The constitutional process was not followed. What about Wike, who has repeatedly threatened to destabilize the state if the judiciary or legislature failed to remove Governor Fubara?” Okaba questioned.

He also alleged that Wike’s recent visit to Abalama with gunboats and armed soldiers was a provocative act, saying, “What federal project did he go there to commission? This was clearly a trap, and we refused to fall into it.”

Professor Okaba stated that at the right time, the Ijaw nation would assess the country’s political landscape and determine whether it has been treated fairly in national affairs.

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