Ijaw leaders have condemned the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and some lawmakers. They claim President Bola Tinubu made the decision based on false information and without proper investigation. The leaders argue that such action threatens democracy and undermines the rights of the people in Rivers State.
The President of the Ijaw National Congress, Professor Benjamin Okaba, said recent attacks on oil facilities in the state were used as an excuse to justify a state of emergency. He insisted that no clear evidence has been presented to support that claim. He called for a fair investigation to find out who was actually responsible for the violence.
Niger Delta activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, also criticized the suspension. She said the president was misinformed about Governor Fubara’s actions. According to her, the governor had already begun work to rebuild parts of the state’s House of Assembly. She questioned why such positive efforts would be followed by removal from office.
Another prominent voice, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, warned that retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas—now named as the state’s temporary leader—must act within the law. He stressed that the people of Rivers State will not accept any move that undermines their freedom or bypasses the constitution.
The Ijaw leaders are asking the federal government to reverse the suspension and allow legal processes to run their course. They say the future of the state and its people should not be shaped by rushed decisions or false claims.
