INC Condemns State of Emergency in Rivers State, Calls on President Tinubu to Constitute Reconciliatory Committee
By Jide Dominic, Yenagoa writes INC Condemns State of Emergency in Rivers State, Calls on President Tinubu to Constitute Reconciliatory Committee
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has condemned in strong terms the state of emergency rule in Rivers state declared by President Bola Tinubu, following the political impasse between the Federal Capital Territory Minister ( FCT) Nyesom Wike and the ousted Governor, Sir Siminalaye Fubara.
The apex Ijaw socio-cultural body took the unanimous stand during an all Ijaw Stakeholders Summit at the headquarters of INC in Yenagoa, insisting that Nyesom Wike went to the extreme by being behind the infamous state of emergency in the oil rich state.
In his opening remarks at the summit, the President of INC, Professor Benjamin Okaba said the FCT Minister’s derogatory remarks on Ijaw nation is demeaning as the Ijaw nation is the fourth ethnic nationality in the country, stressing that prominent Ijaw sons and daughters cannot fold thier hands and watch Nyesom Wike degrade the Ijaws which invariably informed the reason why they came together to take a definite stand on the lingering issue.
The erudite Professor further noted with dismay the naked arrogance being displayed by the FCT Minister by calling the Ijaws minority in not only Rivers state but the entire country, stressing that Ijaw speaking states contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country through the abundance natural resources in the states and should therefore be given their rightful place in the socio-economic and political intrigues of the country.
He noted that INC has chosen to be calm in the face of the open provocation, pointing out that INC will not go into any form of violence but would rather galvanize enough support to resist further insults on Ijaw nation by Nyesom Wike.
He equally asserted that the Ijaw nation is not in war with the Federal Government or any ethnic nationality in the country, stressing that Ijaws had contributed significantly to the political journey of Nyesom and rather than show gratitude, he turned around to openly castigate Ijaw nation.
Gov. Douye Diri, in his remarks urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to constitue a reconcilliatoy committee, contending that the Rivers state political crisis can be resolved through dialogue as “the Ijaw nation is not in conflict with the Federal Government or President Tinubu”.
He noted that the reconcilliatoy committee should consists of eminent personalities in Ijaw race to intervene and restore peace and order in the state thereby bringing back the state’s democratic structure, urging the President to ” reconsider his stance and allow dialogue among the waring parties”.
Human Rights activist, Ms Anngio Briggs said the Ijaw nation has a concrete historical background especially as regards the fight for the legitimate rights of Ijaw people by thier forefathers including ,King Koko of Nembe, King Jaja of Opobo, Isaac Boro and others who saw what is happening today ahead , adding that the time has come for the race to protect and improve on the legacies left behind by the ancestors.
She commended those that stood for justice in Rivers state right from when Gov. Fubara took oath of office till date, noting that ” that is the identity of true Ijaw unity”, expressing appreciation to INC for standing for justice and truth.
In his remarks, High Chief Dumo Lulu- Briggs who is an illustrious son of Rivers state noted that the state emergency should not become a tool to undermine democracy in the state, adding that Ijaw elders cannot allow Rivers people to continue to suffer because of political differences.
” Yes, we agree to embrace peace and dialogue but we should also take into cognisance what happens next, because at the end of the emergency rule, we don’t want see a House of Assembly that would not want the Governor to perform his legitimate duties”.
