Fubara’s Suspension: Ijaw leaders takes drastic action, to meet Tinubu

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The Ijaw ethnic group’s fight for self-determination in the Niger Delta has been reignited by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers state.

The president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the highest sociocultural organization of the Ijaw people, Professor Benjamin Okaba, expressed displeasure with Tinubu’s statement and called it a setback for the Ijaw community.

In an interview with Vanguard that was published on Friday, March 21, Prof. Benjamin Okaba discussed their planned meeting with President Tinubu.

He said: “For Ijaw people, we are not too happy because we see this as another slap on us. But again, our position will be deliberated upon in a wider stakeholders’ meeting that will be convened later.

“In that meeting, I am sure the Ijaw people will look at how we have fared in this Nigerian project and what options are left to drive home our quest for self-determination.”

He went on to criticize the declaration’s haste, claiming that President Tinubu had multiple chances to handle the matter in a better way.

“We say it is hasty because the President has so much opportunity to leverage on the calls made by Nigerians from all quarters to call his minister, Nyesom Wike, to order.”

Okaba supported his argument by denouncing Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and pointing out that he has exacerbated political tensions in the state.

“Secondly, while Wike himself has been the antagonist, he had boldly stated that he would make governance impossible for the governor, Siminalayi Fubara, in as much as he does not dance to his tune.

“Wike has to be sacked, and all the federal appointees from the state also have to be sacked because if you do not sack them, they will use their positions to perpetrate more crises and create more advantageous roles for themselves.”

Additionally, the president imposed a six-month suspension on Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all state legislators.

In order to run the state without passing new legislation, the president designated retired vice admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator.

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