Ijaw people will defend Fubara ‘with every pint of blood in their veins’- INC

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has strongly criticized the recent Supreme Court verdict on the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State, warning that the decision could destabilize the Niger Delta.

INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, expressed the group’s disappointment, stating that the ruling disregarded the historical and political contributions of the Ijaw people to the state’s governance.

He cautioned that any efforts to undermine Governor Siminalayi Fubara could have severe repercussions for national stability and economic security.

Reflecting on the state’s political history, the INC underscored the pivotal role the Ijaw people have played in shaping leadership over the years. Prof. Okaba recounted how, in 1999, Ijaw leader Chief Marshall Harry helped secure the PDP ticket for Dr. Peter Odili, despite internal opposition, adding that Harry’s influence extended to the general election, ensuring Odili’s victory over Chief Ebenezer Isokariari of the APP.

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The Ijaw group said in 2003, when Harry supported Sergeant Awuse’s gubernatorial bid, he was assassinated, describing it as a tragic event that remains etched in Ijaw memory.

According to INC, by 2007, figures like Soboma George and Farrah Dagogo helped usher Sir Celestine Omehia into power, with Prince Igodo losing his life during Omehia’s inauguration to prevent a security breach.

The INC also pointed to 2011, when Rotimi Amaechi’s bid to nominate Pastor Tonye Cole for a ministerial role was blocked by Dame Patience Jonathan, who secured the slot for Nyesom Wike. Despite these enduring sacrifices, the INC argued that the Ijaw people now face renewed political marginalization.

The INC issued a sharp warning to the federal government, vowing that the Ijaw community would protect Governor Fubara “with every pint of blood in their veins.”

Prof. Okaba stressed that the Ijaw have long worked to maintain peace in the Niger Delta, boosting national oil production, yet now face exclusion across multiple states, including Ondo, Edo, Delta, and Akwa Ibom.

Addressing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the INC urged the federal government to handle the Rivers State crisis with utmost care. Prof. Okaba emphasized that the Ijaw, a community of over 40 million people globally, would not tolerate any attempts to curtail their political influence.

While calling on Governor Fubara to collaborate with all arms of government for the state’s progress, Okaba warned that if Fubara’s mandate is disrupted, “the INC cannot guarantee the sustenance of the current peace in the Niger Delta, nor the continued rise in oil production.”