Ten days after Rivers State Governor Dr. Siminalayi Fubara was suspended and a state of emergency declared, Ijaw leaders from the Niger Delta convened over the weekend to express their concerns, concluding that President Bola Tinubu has been misinformed.


Prominent figures including the president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba; activist Ann-kio Briggs; and Ijaw leaders HRH Anabs Sara-Igb and HRH King-jerry Prebor (snr) came together to assess the situation and seek the truth.


However, dissent emerged from Ken Robinson, the former publicity secretary of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and human rights activist Comrade Felix Edore, who argued that no one had misled the president.


Prof. Okaba voiced concerns to Saturday Vanguard, stating, "Our investigations indicate that the pipeline explosions preceding the declaration were orchestrated as part of a premeditated plan. They dispatched individuals to carry out these attacks. If this wasn't the case, why haven't there been more incidents since the declaration? Their goals were realized, and now we witness a ceasefire. The Ijaw people are resolute in uncovering the truth and may pursue legal action if this injustice isn’t quickly addressed."


He also remarked on the inconsistent reports surrounding the militants’ alleged attacks on oil facilities, urging the federal government to conduct a thorough investigation before taking any unilateral actions. "We hope President Tinubu does not squander the goodwill he holds in the South-South. Suspension based on hearsay is not how we should govern this country; we need comprehensive assessments and well-informed actions."


In a proactive suggestion, Okaba called for the establishment of a committee of former presidents and vice presidents to mediate and resolve the ongoing crisis. He stated, "The current administration is operating outside legal bounds. The president must withdraw the state of emergency, instruct both Wike and Fubara to cease all pending legal matters, and impose a ban on public statements or actions related to the crisis until mediation takes place."


The INC also raised alarms about the federal government’s approach to the Supreme Court’s ruling concerning state funds. "The ruling clarified that once the House of Assembly approves a budget, the governor of Rivers State can lawfully spend state funds. Yet, appointing a sole administrator and releasing funds without consulting the judiciary sets an alarming precedent," Okaba emphasized. "Why would a president who asked PANDEF to encourage the governor to respect the Supreme Court verdict then contravene that very judgment? Funding an illegal administrator while disregarding a Supreme Court order is grounds for impeachment."


There is widespread discontent across Nigeria, with influential voices, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and Professor Wole Soyinka, condemning the state of emergency and the governor's suspension as an abuse of power and a violation of the Nigerian Constitution. This outcry reflects a collective dissatisfaction with the federal government’s handling of the Rivers State situation and underscores the necessity for a reevaluation of current strategies to promote justice and stability in the region, a sentiment reiterated by the INC.


Clarifying the Narrative: Ann-Kio Briggs Speaks Out


Renowned Niger Delta activist Ann-Kio Briggs asserted that President Bola Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara and his deputy based on inaccurate information. "The president has been misled. 


It appears he has not directly engaged with Rivers State, instead relying on a selective group of supporters — a notion that undermines the Ijaw people's support for him. The situation must be rectified."