Ijaw Stakeholders Urge President Tinubu To Address Rivers Crisis Without Bias

Ijaw Stakeholders Urge President Tinubu To Address Rivers Crisis Without Bias

Leaders and stakeholders from the Niger Delta region have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to approach the political situation in Rivers State impartially and avoid any biases. They urged the President to ensure fair treatment in addressing the issues affecting the state, particularly those concerning the political crisis in Rivers.

This appeal follows recent comments by the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and Special Adviser to the President on Media, Bayo Onanuga, who suggested that the suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was primarily responsible for the ongoing political turmoil in the state.

The call was made during the Congress for Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities, which gathered various leaders, stakeholders, and representatives from across the Niger Delta region…READ MORE….

Benjamin Okaba, President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), delivered a keynote address, emphasizing that the President must recognize the broader consequences of favoritism on the nation’s peace and stability. He stated, “We have faced degradation, exploitation, and dehumanization for years. This struggle is not about individual differences between Ijaw and Ikwerre; it is a class struggle where the elite seek power at any cost.”

Okaba further warned that decisive actions would be taken to ensure that the Ijaw nation, the fourth largest ethnic group in the country, is accorded its rightful dignity.

Felix Tuodolo, the Pioneer President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, stressed the importance of advocating for an Ijaw and Niger Delta agenda to address issues of marginalization and resource control. He stated, “The Ijaw people have been silent for too long. This rally is a call for the Ijaw nation to reclaim its place in national affairs.”

Tuodolo also urged President Tinubu to set aside any biases in resolving the political conflict between former Governor Nyesom Wike and the suspended Governor Fubara.

Comrade Berefa Bedford, spokesperson for the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), warned that the suspension of the elected governor could lead to further political instability, which might jeopardize peaceful coexistence among ethnic groups in the region. He called on President Tinubu to act swiftly to resolve the crisis and restore stability to the area.