News

Rivers Crisis: INC Urges Ijaw To Rally Round Fubara …We’ll Mobilise Two million Nigerian Youths To Defend Fubara -Youth Coalition …Chastises Police For Attacking Gov

Published

2 years ago

November 1, 2023

Following reports of political crisis in Rivers State, the ljaw National Congress (INC) has urged all Ijaw sons and daughters to rally round the State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara
The Congress also advised the former Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike, to concentrate on his responsibilities as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and stop interfering in the running of government in the State.
INC, in a statement by its National President, Prof. Benjamin Ogle Okaba, said, “The attention of the jaw National Congress has been drawn to a grand plot masterminded by the immediate past governor of River State, now the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike to unlawfully impeach the duly elected Governor of River State, His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara who is barely five months in office as Governor of River State.
“The INC considers this development very worrisome and capable of generating an unwarranted state of insecurity and instability that can throw the entire Niger Delta and the Nigerian economy into serious crises.
“From reports gathered, Governor Fubara has done nothing wrong to warrant his removal except for the fact that he has decided not to remain a stooge to the immediate past Governor.
“The INC, therefore, condemns in its entirety this barbaric, selfish, nepotistic and unconstitutional act capable of derailing the process of democratic consolidation in Nigeria.
“Wike should be advised to concentrate on his responsibilities as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and stop interfering and arm swinging the political machinery in River State to advance his personal and selfish desires.
“The INC is hereby calling on Mr. President and Commander in Chief President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call his FCT Minister to order.
“The INC is calling on all jaw sons, daughters and friends to rally their support to the Governor of River State as an injustice to one jaw man is an injustice to over forty (40) million Ijaw people across the world.
“The ljaw Nation Is Watching Closely and will act decisively and appropriately at the right time”
Meanwhile, the Coalition of Nigerian Youth Leaders (CONYL), the umbrella body of all Nigerian youths in South South, South East, South West, North East, North Central, and North West geopolitical zones has condemned in strongest terms the attack on Fubara by policemen and other security agents using life bullets, teargas and other weapons.
The coalition also condemned the plot to impeach the governor using the instrumentality of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The coalition , in a statement jointly signed by its President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem; Leader, South South Youth Coalition (SSYC), Comrade Iniobong Sampson, and Comrade Junaid Abubakar of the Arewa Youth Vanguard For Good Governance (AYVGG), condemned the attack on Fubara and promised to mobilise two million youths to defend him.
The statement read, “The attack on Governor Fubara by security agents with life bullets, teargas and other weapons is a confirmation that there were on a mission to assassinate the Governor. This is madness taken too far and we condemn it in its entirety.
“It is very clear to all that the Governor has done nothing wrong to warrant an impeachment but because he has refused to share the commonwealth of the good people of Rivers State to a few, some persons wants him impeached. But we the people say a capital “NO” to their evil plot on our democracy.
“It amounts to a coup against democracy for some persons to contemplate impeaching a governor that has barely stayed for 4 months in office who have not committed any impeachable offence whatsoever. These shows that some anti-democratic forces are at work and we warn them to stay clear from Rivers State.
“It is very unfortunate that some security agents and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly will allow themselves to be used by selfish individuals who do no mean well for the state to cause disaffection and uproar in the peaceful state of Rivers.
“Governor Fubara was elected by the good people of Rivers State to govern them and he should be allowed to do the job freely given to him by the good people of Rivers State without any form of interference from any quarters.
“Rivers State is too big for anyone or a few group of persons to think they can just wakeup and order the impeachment of the executive governor elected by the people. Nigerians have overgrown that era and stage.
“We will mobilize 2 million Nigerian youths in solidarity to Governor Fubara for effective delivery of democracy dividends to the people of Rivers State who freely gave him his mandate.
“We call on the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun to immediately arrest and prosecute those security agents who attacked Governor Fubara with life bullets, teargas and other dangerous weapons. The law must take it’s full cause on those airing officers.
“We call on Governor Similanayi Fubara to stand firm and strong to defend the mandate freely given to him by the good people of Rivers State who defied the rain, sun and harsh weather to cast their votes for him during the elections. It is him that the people know and it is him that they people will hold accountable.
“We call on the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly not to allow themselves to be used by anyone to cause disaffection and uproar in the state.
“We call on all Nigerians to standup in defense of democracy in Rivers State that is under attack by a few selfish individuals.
“We urge good people of Rivers state to stand solidly behind Governor Fubara who mean well for the state and is fully prepared to move the state to another level of growth and development”.
In its reaction, the Rivers State Police Command, in a terse statement by its spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said it was on top of the security situations that occurred at the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.
She said that a full-scale investigation has been launched to unravel the circumstances surrounding the situations and take immediate policing actions against anyone found wanting.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.