IYC Vows To Defend Rivers Over Budget Presentation Ultimatum
Barikui Felix, Port Harcourt
The Ijaw National Congress (IYC) Eastern Zone has raised the alarm over potential insecurity in Rivers State following the fallout of last Friday’s Supreme Court ruling.
The body said the Martin Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly’s ultimatum to Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 budget within 48 hours is an invitation to anarchy in the state.
IYC Eastern Zone, in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Comrade Prince Datolu Sukubo, Secretary, Comrade Tamunokuro Dango, and Information Officer, Ambassador Odia Igbiks, said the ultimatum is an attempt to undermine the mandate given to the governor by the people of Rivers State and cause chaos that could set the stage for impeachment proceedings against the governor.
The Ijaw youths vowed they won’t sit idly and allow anybody to steal the mandate freely given to the governor.
“We are aware of alarming plans by certain elements to destabilize Rivers State and undermine the mandate given to our elected officials. The purported 48-hour ultimatum issued to Governor Siminialayi Fubara, by the Martins Amaewhule-led House of Assembly to present the 2025 budget is a clear indication of an orchestrated effort to create chaos and potentially impeach the governor.
“This is not only an attack on our leadership but also an affront to the will of the Rivers people who have entrusted their governance to one of our own.
“The IYC firmly warns that we will not stand by and allow detractors to steal this mandate. We are committed to defending our rights and ensuring that the voices of the Ijaw people are heard and respected,” the statement read.
The youths further called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to immediately intervene and halt the crisis, which they fear is capable of plunging Rivers State into an avoidable crisis. They stressed that such instability could have severe repercussions, not only for the state but also for crude oil production and energy security.
While calling for peace and stability in the state, the Ijaw youths further warned that if Rivers State is starved of allocations, they will starve Nigeria’s resources.
“Let us not allow the ambitions of a few to jeopardize the future of our state and its people which will further endanger the economy of this country, because any attempt to stop Rivers State Allocation which will cause hardships to innocent civil servants and also reduce the speedy developmental projects implementation by the Rivers State government will definitely have negative effect on the economy of this country, as Ijaw people we will not fold our hands and allow the continued political marginalization of our own.
“If Rivers State is starved of its economic right because of one man who want to monopolize Rivers State economy we will also starve the economy of Nigeria,” IYC warned.
