Ijaw stakeholders demand reversal of Fubara, deputy, lawmakers’ suspension
By Jeffrey Agbo
Ijaw stakeholders have called for the reversal of the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and members of the state House of Assembly following the declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu.
The people noted that although they recognise the right of the president in the constitution to declare a state of emergency, however, the said constitution as amended does not empower the president to suspend the democratically elected governor, deputy governor and members of the State House of Assembly or appoint a sole administrator.
The people reached these resolutions at a meeting held on March 26 at Ijaw House, Sani Abacha Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.
Present at the gathering were the Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, alongside his Deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; King Alfred Diete-Spiff; distinguished statesmen Sir Rufus Ada-George and Sir Gabriel Toby, former Governor and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State; former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Gboribiogha John Jonah; the chairman of Bayelsa State traditional rulers council. King Bubraye Dakolo and King (Dr.) Dandeson Douglas Jaja, the eminent Amb. (Dr.) Godknows Boladei Igali, Chairman of PANDEF; Hon. Maria Ebikake; a host of other paramount jaw traditional rulers; and eminent ljaw sons and daughters including compatriots in the diaspora who joined virtually via Zoom.
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According to a communique issued after the meeting and made available to TheNiche on Thursday, the Ijaw people said they were “not fighting with the Federal Government under the leadership of the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), neither are we fighting with any ethnic nationalities. We have always been the glue that has bonded the nation together and therefore demand that we be equally treated with respect, fairness, equity and justice in the affairs of the Nation.”
The Ijaw stakeholders ultimately demanded the “reversal of the suspension of the Governor, Deputy Governor and Members of the State House of assembly as the process was a violation of the provisions of the 1999 constitution as Amended.
“That the President should urgently set up a Committee of Eminent Nigerians to resolve the political impasse in Rivers State and also give them a reasonable deadline that shows urgency and commitment to the swift resolution of all the problems in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.”
They also accused FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, of trying to undermine the Ijaw people with his words.
“We therefore call on the president to call to order his political appointees, especially Nyesom Wike, as further denigrating utterances from him might be misconstrued as Nyesom Wike speaking on behalf of Mr. President and his Government.
“We advise him to stop forthwith, every form of hate speech and denigration of any ethnic nationality that could lead to disharmony, disrespect and chaos in the country.
“The ljaw Nation has resolved that any further attempt to undermine and/or relegate our societal standing will be met with utmost resistance in the form of exploring any and every available legitimate and peaceful means to seek redress,” the communique read.
The stakeholders urged ljaw sons and daughters to remain calm and law-abiding and await the intervention of ljaw leaders.
