•Wike and Fubara
Oil and gas-producing communities in the Niger Delta have warned the 27 lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly to avoid actions that could trigger unrest in the region, potentially affecting crude oil production.
Their reaction follows the blockade of the Rivers State Assembly Complex, preventing Governor Siminalayi Fubara from presenting the 2025 budget as ordered by the Supreme Court, reports Vanguard.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Communities Committee of Oil and Gas Producing Areas in the Niger Delta (CDC), Joseph Ambakaderimo, condemned the lawmakers’ actions, describing them as “political rascality at its peak.”
“Preventing Governor Fubara from accessing the Assembly to perform his official duty is a clear affront to the Supreme Court’s judgment. These lawmakers should lead by example and respect the rule of law.”
Ambakaderimo further cautioned that their behavior could ignite a crisis with unpredictable consequences, reminding them of the economic and social turmoil that once plagued the Niger Delta.
“What happened today is setting the stage for a conflict whose outcome no one can predict. We should all remember the dark days of unrest in the Niger Delta and the economic impact it had on the entire country.”
He called on all key actors in the Rivers political crisis to embrace peace, warning against actions that could destabilize the region and disrupt crude oil production.
Similarly, Ogoni Development Drive (ODD), a rights group, described the lawmakers’ decision as “a political sacrilege”, calling it an insult to democracy.
Solomon Lenu, convener of ODD, expressed shock that such an act was carried out while people went about their daily activities as though everything was normal.
“Nothing is normal about a sitting governor, who controls all state properties, being locked out of the Assembly Complex. It is an outright abuse of power.”
Lenu urged Rivers people to speak out, adding that such an incident would never have happened under Wike without violent repercussions.
“If this had happened during Wike’s tenure, there would have been dead bodies everywhere. This is unacceptable. The Ijaw people are keeping quiet even after Wike threw tantrums at them.”
“When an Ogoni man becomes governor, I want to see how Wike will react. He will realise that he does not have a monopoly on violence and intimidation.”
Lenu further criticised Wike’s overbearing influence in Rivers State, insisting that no past governor had ever laid claim to the state in the manner Wike is doing.
“Before Wike became governor, others held the office, but none acted like they owned the state. The lawmakers must urgently apologize to Governor Fubara for the shameful and embarrassing display of lawlessness.”
The political crisis in Rivers State continues to escalate, with various stakeholders calling for restraint and respect for democratic processes.
