- Halimah Olamide
Nigeria’s oil sector faces threat as the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), has threatened to halt productions over the alleged impeachment plot against of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The President, IYC, Alaye Theophilus, issued the warning , while advising those with intent to destabilise Rivers State to thread with caution.
This is coming on the heels of the expiration of the 48-hour ultimatum issued to Fubara for the re-presentation of the 2025 Budget before the reinstated Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly.
Recall that the Supreme Court had last week reinstated all sacked members of Assembly with Amaewhule returning as the Speaker.
The apex court also declared the local government election held on 5th of October 2024 null, thereby sacking the elected local government chairmen.
Fubara’s would be dealt the biggest blow with the Supreme Court’s order barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other financial institutions from granting Federal allocation to Rivers state until the governor re-present the budget before the legally recognized Assembly.
Reacting to the development alongside on possible impeachment of Fubara, the IYC warned against using the Supreme Court ruling as a tool for political instability as Alaye criticized the court’s decision, particularly the nullification of the local government elections.
“We found the Supreme Court nullification of the Rivers State local government elections very provocative and laughable, as other states equally relied on the 2023 INEC voters register to conduct local government elections,” Alaye stated.
He accused Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike of manipulating the judiciary to create chaos in the state.
“The verdict has confirmed our suspicion that the frequent boast of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, that a tsunami will soon rock Rivers State shows that the apex court is working hand in glove with him to destroy the state,” Alaye claimed.
He further warned that depriving Rivers State of its statutory allocations could lead to economic instability, affecting not only the region but also national revenue from crude oil production.
“If Rivers State is starved of its economic rights because of one who wants to monopolize Rivers State’s economy, we will also starve the economy of Nigeria,” the IYC warned.
In the same vein, the Ijaw National Council President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, warned over impending crisis and unrest if Fubara gets impeached.
He stated that the Ijaw people “would not stand by while their first riverine governor in decades is undermined.”
Okaba also faulted the Supreme Court ruling, arguing that it disregarded the historical sacrifices made by the Ijaw people in Rivers politics.
“If Governor Fubara’s tenure is truncated by the Martin Amaewhule-led Assembly or anybody else, the INC cannot guarantee the sustenance of the current peace in the Niger Delta, nor the continued rise in oil production,” Okaba warned.
He further recalled past Ijaw contributions to governance in Rivers, highlighting key moments when Ijaw leaders played decisive roles in political transitions.
The INC President lamented that despite these efforts, a political elite from the Ikwerre ethnic group appeared determined to frustrate Fubara’s administration.
“The Ijaw nation will defend Fubara with every pint of blood in their veins,” Okaba declared.