Politics
INC and Politics of Nation Building
The Ijaw National Congress (INC), a social-cultural organisation and the umbrella body of the Ijaw ethnic nationality has been a very vocal voice among the 250 ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. Found in six states of the federation.
They are Bayelsa, Akwa IBom, Delta, Edo Rivers and Ondo States that make up the geographical entity called Nigeria.
The organisation which pioneered the agitation for resource control, neglect, marginalisation of the Niger Delta People and South South president became a formaidable rallying point to demand for better treatment from the federal government. They condemned environmental degradation caused by multinational oil firms that explore and exploit the natural resources which God put in their soil that was meant to be used to tackle the difficult terrain of the area.
In other words, God deliberately created the people of the region, put them in the difficult environment and buried black gold that would be utilized to surmount the developmental challenges of the people. This led to agitations, following many years of unfulfilled promises to uplift the worsening condition of living of the Niger Delta region.
Consciously, the Federal government under successive administrations, presided over the wealth form the area through the crude oil resources that produce over 90 per cent of the country’s earnings.
However, the genuine struggle of the Ijaw ethnic nationality and indeed the entire people of the region began to attract international sympathy as the issue of indigenous notn working in the companies operating in the locality came to the fore. Thus, youth unemployment rose to the high heavens and the resultltant effect was the hijacking of the struggle by the youngmen who created illegitimate economy to survive and ciriminality creeped into the reasonable agitation for improvement in the living conditions of the people.
There is no doubt, the struggle of the Ijaw ethnic nationality can be described as successful, considering the emergence of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, as Vice President and subsequent election as the first President of Nigeria from the Ijaw extraction.
Although, today, the activities of INC appear to have nose dived in recent times as alleged in-fighting and penetration of partisan politics into the ranks of the organisation may be diminishing the success recorded by the body.
Recently, the National President of INC Dr. Atuboyedia Obianime was suspended from office laying credence to the existence of internal squabble in the once vibrant Ijaw National Congress.
Perhaps, the inactive posture of the organisation may be a new strategy adopted by the body so as not to confront the federal government led by an Ijaw man, from Otueke, in Bayelsa State. But the Acting President of INC, Chief Joshua Benamaisia Ibiakpo, denied insinuations that the organisation is in disarray rather admitted that their activities have slowed down a little.
Chief Ibiakpo, who spoke to The Tide Political desk, said disagreements abound in every human organisation, including family set up but it does not translate to affecting the workings of the congress.
Though, the Ijaw struggle did not start today some achievements have been recorded, emphasising that the demand for resource control and self determination remains the reason for their support for restructuring of the country which is already before the National Assembly.
He restated the demand for the creation of two states, for the Ijaw race namely Oil Rivers out of Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, Toru-Ebe out of the present Delta, Edo and Ondo States, insisting that they are against any balkanisation of the Ijaw people in the country and called on the federal government to intervene in the problem in Edo State where the Ijaws are being denied their place in the scheme of things.
As expected, INC proactive steps is to assist President Jonathan’s administration to succeed by giving him maximum cooperation which perhaps accounts for the slow pace of their activities. According to the Acting President the bomb blasts in the country are acts of terrorism by some unscrupulous Nigerians to distract the President who was voted into power as a unifying factor in the country.
To that extent, he argued that Nigeria is together and would continue to be one indivisible entity, emphasizing that what Nigeria needs at the moment is restructuring which would be achieved through the convening of an ethnic national conference. The present 1999 constitution is flawed for retaining military programmes in form of decrees and cited the land use decree as being in effect under a civilian regime.
Obviously, the only constitution INC would support is the one where the people will participate in its formulation so that various interests would be considered for the over wellbeing of the country.
On the position of Ijaw National Congress, on the proposed removal of Petroleum subsidy, Chief Ibiakpo, said “fuel subsidy has always been there since the military era and the system has remained porous which made the subsidy not to benefit the poor masses. For instance kerosene is subsided for N50.00 but today it sells for between N150 and N200 per litre, thereby making the ordinary people not to feel the impact of the subsidy.”
Fortunately, rather than criticise, the INC leadership took a step further by going to the Minister of Petroleum Resources to make inquiry and have gotten the full analysis which informs its position on the issue. The question that readily agitate the minds of Nigerians are not far fetched, who are the beneficiaries of the subsidy on Petroleum products?, why are the four refineries not working? What is responsible for the lack of political will to checkmake those obstructing the realisation of this programme over the year.
Answers to these questions would keep our minds pondering in different directions but the political class must embark on soul searching venture to purge itself of the enigma if the country must achieve its dream of being one of the best 20 economies in the world by 2020.
Even as the Ijaw nation continues its struggle which dates back to the colonial era and the achievement of some degree of success by the organisation, the present leadership of the organisation is being watched by many to see how the vision of the founding fathers of the body would be actualised in the years to come.
The perceived in-fighting in INC should be resolved quickly to enable it provide the needed cover for their kinsmen President Jonathan. Therefore Ijaw elders must rise to the occasion to proffer workable solution to the issues involved, otherwise the impasse may degenerate to factionalisation of the congress and that would lead to unsavouring consequences for a pace-setting ethnic nationality.
Operating under the umbrella of the Coalition of Civil Society Network, the group described the ruling delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu as unfair and contrary to the spirit of democracy, urging the judiciary to consider the will of the people in its final determination of the matter.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Thursday, October 30, sacked Gummi for defecting from the PDP, which sponsored his election, to the APC.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu held that it was morally wrong for a politician to transfer votes from one political party to another, stating that “political prostitution must not be rewarded.”
He declared that voters elect candidates based on the manifestos and ideals of their political parties. Therefore, it was both legally and morally unacceptable for an elected official to abandon that platform without relinquishing the mandate.
The court also restrained the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, from recognising Hon. Gummi as a member of the House, and ordered him to refund all salaries and allowances received from October 30, 2024, to the date of judgment.
Justice Egwuatu further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election within 30 days to fill the vacant seat.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1803/2024, was filed by the PDP and its Zamfara State chairman, Jamilu Jibomagayaki, who argued that Hon. Gummi’s defection violated Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as there was no division within the PDP to justify his action.
But convener of the coalition, Lukman Muhammad, who addressed journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, said Hon. Gummi’s defection was a direct result of the unresolved internal crisis within the PDP, which, according to him, crippled the lawmaker’s ability to effectively represent his constituents.
He said: “We believe the court’s decision was unjust and failed to consider the circumstances surrounding Hon. Gummi’s defection. Gummi’s decision to join the APC was necessitated by the unresolved internal crisis within the PDP, which hindered his ability to effectively represent his constituents.
“We affirm that Hon. Gummi’s right to choose his political affiliation is protected by the Constitution and should be respected. We stand for democracy and the rule of law, while also urging the judiciary to consider the will of the people and the greater good”.
He urged Justice Egwuatu to review the judgment, stressing that the ruling could set a dangerous precedent that undermines the principle of fair representation and the rights of elected officials.
The coalition further noted that the judgment has broader implications for Nigeria’s democratic process, as it raises questions about the extent to which lawmakers can exercise their constitutional freedom of association without fear of losing their mandate.
The parties stated that the APC was on the verge of collapse following the recent wave of defections from opposition parties into its ranks.
In separate interviews with The Tide source, spokespersons for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) —Debo Ologunagba, Oladipo Johnson, and Mark Adebayo – respectively, said an implosion was imminent in the APC.
But the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, stated that recent defections to the party were voluntary and inspired by the ruling party’s achievements, not through coercion. He added that the APC was well-structured, capable of managing its internal affairs effectively, and therefore would not experience any internal crisis.
In recent months, the ruling APC has continued to receive several high-profile politicians from opposition parties, particularly the PDP. Among those who have joined the APC are Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa.
Most recently, members of the Enugu State Executive Council defected to the APC, a move followed by Governor Peter Mbah’s official declaration for the ruling party on October 14 in Enugu.
On October 15, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, announced his resignation from the PDP. Although he has yet to join another party, speculation is rife that he is on his way to the APC.
Similarly, Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, confirmed last Wednesday that he would be joining the APC.
Numerous other politicians, including several lawmakers, have also abandoned their parties to align with the ruling APC.
In his reaction, Hon. Ologunagba predicted an imminent crisis within the APC, expressing confidence that those who defected would eventually return to the PDP.
He stated, “This is the major political party (PDP), and it is the only democratic party in the country. It has structures cutting across all the local governments, all the wards, and of course all the states. In every home, there are members of the PDP, and that is why the APC are jittery, and that is why they are coercing our members, using state resources and state agencies to force members of opposition parties to join the ruling party.
“But in all this, we are sure and confident that very soon, the APC will implode because it is a multipurpose political vehicle that is not going to last. It is going to implode.
“Many Nigerians will see through it and know that the party is not a political party that protects the interests of the citizens. So, they are going to leave the party and move to the major political party, which is the PDP. We are optimistic that before 2027, many Nigerians will join us because this is the truly democratic party and the only party that is out there to protect their interests.”
On his part, Mr Johnson of the NNPP lamented that the wave of defections posed a serious threat to the country’s democracy.
Mr Johnson said, “This is bad for democracy. For our type of democracy, it is important to have a proper and effective opposition. Already, we’ve seen a blurring of lines between the legislature and the executive; some would even say the judiciary. I hope not. I think many people are observing the trend and are unhappy. However, we need to be a bit more patient and see what happens soon.
“When the PDP was in power for 16 years, it was the party many people rushed into. Over time, it imploded, and many of those who joined it turned against it. So, I see that happening to the ruling APC. Definitely. This is because of the nature of Nigerian politicians; many are driven by personal interests. I always say that Nigeria can never truly be a one-party state. Even if only one party exists, it will become factionalised, with different interests and power blocs. Those pushing the country toward a one-party system may not have studied Nigeria’s political history carefully.”
In his remarks, CUPP’s Adebayo stated that the pattern of defections among politicians, particularly governors and lawmakers, was a deliberate strategy by the ruling party to transform the country into a one-party state.
Mr Adebayo said, “It is not accidental; it is a deliberate and strategic effort to entrench a one-party dictatorship. Whether these defections are forced or coerced, one thing is clear: it is an intentional action driven by the ruling party, particularly the President.
“This development is unhealthy for our democracy. It is shameful and stands against everything democratic principles represent. It is inimical to the growth and development of Nigeria as a democratic nation and poses a grave threat to our political stability.
“The implosion of the APC will come before or once it loses power. Most Nigerian politicians lack ideological grounding or principles; their loyalty lies only with the party in power. Political affiliation is tied to ideology and conviction, not convenience. However, the ideology of most politicians is simply the ruling party. If tomorrow the ADC, Labour Party, or SDP wins the presidency, many of these same politicians will abandon the APC overnight. They have no shame, no conviction, and no conscience. Their only motivation is proximity to power.”
In response, Mr Ibrahim of the APC maintained the APC would not face any internal crisis, asserting that it has the capacity to effectively manage its affairs, unlike the opposition.
He stated, “The fact that the opposition are not organised and they cannot organise primaries, neither can they manage their parties, does not mean we are on the same boat with them. Our party, the APC, has been conducting primaries successfully and rancor-free.
“So, the fact that they don’t know how to manage their party does not mean that is the way we run our own party. The APC does not coerce anyone to join. Those joining are doing so willingly because of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope achievements. Our party is fully prepared. It’s not going to implode; it’s not going to have any issues similar to the issues they have been having.”
Senator Ndume, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, accused both the executive and legislative arms of complacency, saying their failure to proactively engage the United States government on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria led to the development.
The senator recalled that he had earlier sponsored a motion in the Senate on “Christian genocide” in the country. The motion, he said, led to resolutions mandating the Nigerian government to engage the U.S. with verified facts and figures.
President Trump, last Friday, announced the designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ over alleged persecution of Christians.
President Trump made the announcement via a post on his Truth Social platform, which was also shared on the official White House X handle.
“Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” President Trump wrote.
But the Nigerian government swiftly rejected the claims, insisting that President Trump’s assessment did not reflect the true situation in the country.
However, Senator Ndume accused the President Tinubu’s administration and the Senate of treating the allegation raised by US lawmaker, Riley Moore, with complacency, prior to President Trump’s declaration, and urged the federal government to take urgent steps to engage the US government with facts and figures on the activities of terrorists organisations which, he noted, were blind to faith.
“I have alerted the government, I even moved a motion. Nigeria is a sovereign state, it isn’t about what the United States can do to us, but about the misconception and the ripple effects of classifying us as a country of concern.
“We should engage the American government by presenting facts and figures. By engaging the US government, we should demand that they hear the other side of the story from the Nigerian government and the Muslim community. Muslims have been killed too. The genocide isn’t against Christians but Nigerians generally,” he said.
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