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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
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.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.