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Communique Issued After the Emergency Expanded National Executive Council Meeting of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) on the Political Crisis in Rivers State.
Held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Izon-Ware, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
Preamble
1. An emergency expanded meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) was convened to discuss critical issues affecting the ljaw people, with a particular focus on the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including NEC members,leaders of the National Representatives Council, representatives from the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Eders (CITRE), Zonal and Chapter leaders of the INC, affiliate Ijaw organisations, past INC President s and other respected Ijaw leaders.
2. The session, presided over by the INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, began with a moment of silence in honour of Chief, Sen., Dr., Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, the former Chairman of the INC Board of Trustees, who passed away on February 17th, 2025. During his opening remarks, Prof. Okaba urged attendees to remain objective and non-partisan in their discussions, emphasizing that the resolutions reached would have a significant impact on the Ijaw Nation and Rivers State.
After extensive deliberations, the following observations and resolutions were made:
Observations
1. The Ijaw people host a major portion of Nigeria’s oil and Gas assets, yet they continue to face political marginalization and economic neglect. Additionally, the Ijaws suffer the exploration and exploitation without commensurate benefits.
2. Historically, Ijaw ancestors played a crucial role in both the foundations of Nigeria as the first tribe to arrive here and in Nigeria’s struggle for independence. Ijaws took the lead in actively fighting for the creation of Rivers State as well. As such, the Ija people remain key stakeholders in the development of both Rivers State and Nigeria.
3. Over the years, the Ijaw people have supported the emergence of governors from other ethnic groups in Rivers State, including Dr. Peter Odili (Ndoni), Sir Celestine Omehia (Ikwerre), Hon. Barr. Rotimi Amaechi (Ikwerre), and Barr. Nyesom Wike (Ikwerre). Notably, former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife Dame Patience Jonathan played a crucial role in Wike’s rise to power.
4. The Ijaw people have always stood behind past governors throughout their tenures, ensuring their successful completion of two-tenure administrations without external interference.
5. While acknowledging Barr. Nyesom Wike’s role in the election of Gov. Siminilayi (Ijaw), the INC, urged Wike to reciprocate the goodwill by supporting Fubara’s administration, just as Ijaws had backed him during his tenure.
6. The ongoing political conflict between Barr. Nyesom Wike and Gov. Siminilayi Fubara is unwarranted and has hindered peace, stability, and development in Rivers State and the Niger Delta. The crisis has resulted in loss of lives and destruction of properties worth hundreds of millions in naira.
Resolutions
The meeting, therefore, resolves as follows:
1. Gov. Siminilayi Fubara is a legitimate leader of Rivers State, and to the best of the INC’s knowledge, he has done nothing to justify the level of harassment and intimidation he is currently facing. Despite numerous political distractions, Gov. Fubara has made significant strides in increasing state revenue and implementing impactful infrastructure projects within two years in office. The INC fully supports him during these challenging times.
2. The INC appreciates the overwhelming support from Rivers people of different ethnic backgrounds, including Ikwerre, Ogoni, Ekpeye, Ogba, Etche, Ndoni, and Egbema, who have stood by Governor Fubara throughout this crisis. This solidarity reinforces the fact that the political turmoil is not an ethnic conflict and that the Ijaw Nation is not declared hostilities against any individual or ethnic group. The INC remains committed to peace, unity, and the overall stability of Rivers State and Nigeria.
3. The INC strongly warns that any attempts to remove Governor Fubara from office or disrupt his administration by any means is an affront on the over 45 million Ijaws across the world, which could lead to severe consequences beyond the control of the Ijaw National leadership.
4. The INC expresses gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his initial interventions in the Rivers State political crisis and urges him to intensify efforts to restore peace and order in the state.
5. The INC also commends Governor Fubara for his efforts towards complying with the dictates of the Supreme Court so far and urges all parties to do their part to speedily resolve the crisis.
Conclusion
The INC remains steadfast in its commitment to the stability and progress of Rivers State, the Ijaw Nation, and Nigeria as a whole.
Long live Rivers State!
Long live the Ijaw Nation!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Signed:
Prof. Benjamin Ogele Okaba
INC President.
By Warefa Pereke.
April 2, 2025.
The CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Iduwini Voice Newspaper, Dr. Bibaikefie Clintin Peretengboro, has extended a sincere and heartfelt appreciation to all donors, attendees, and well-wishers who contributed to the resounding success of the newspaper’s unveiling ceremony.
The highly anticipated event, which took place on March 29, 2025, at the prestigious MBB Event Center, Refinery Road Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria, marked a significant milestone in the history of Iduwini Voice Newspaper.
Dr. Peretengboro expressed deep gratitude to the numerous individuals and organizations that supported the newspaper’s launch. “We are overwhelmed with joy and appreciation for the outpouring of support we received from our donors, attendees, and well-wishers,” Dr. Peretengboro said. “Your contributions, whether financial, moral, or otherwise, have been invaluable to us, and we are deeply grateful.”
The CEO and Editor-in-Chief also extended special greetings to the following persons:
Chief Dr. Julius Takeme JP. (PhD), Chairman, Burutu LGA, Hon. Julius Pondi, Member Representing Burutu Federal Constituency, House of Representatives, Prof. Benjamin Ogele Okaba, President Ijaw National Congress, Chief Comrade Sheriff Mulade, DG. Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Pastor Adonis Osarobo, the Zonal Pastor of the Redeemed Christian church, Comrade Newworld Endoro, Chairman, Odimodi Community, Hon. Dennis Yenbri Bibaikefie, Mr. Akin Benikrukru, PIA Chairman, Iduwini Host Community Development Board, Comrade Isaiah Tamaraunimi Ingo, SA to the NDDC Chairman, and the Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF), for their tireless efforts in promoting the newspaper’s launch.
Dr. Peretengboro also thanked the organizers, volunteers, and staff who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of the event.
Iduwini Voice Newspaper is committed to providing accurate, timely, and engaging content to its readers, while promoting the values of fairness, justice, and equality. With the support of its donors, attendees, and well-wishers, the newspaper is set to make a meaningful impact in the region.
Again, we at Iduwini Voice extend our heartfelt appreciation to all those who have supported the newspaper’s launch. We look forward to continuing to serve our readers and the clan with integrity, professionalism, and dedication,” Dr. Bibaikefie concluded.
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Guest Article: The Battle for Nigeria’s Oil Security – Exposing the Forces Undermining National Revenue & the Tompolo Factor
By Tosan Blessing
Long before the conspiracy of evil men led EFCC to declare Tompolo wanted over a case the EFCC could not directly pursue, a case where the facts in issue revolves around the ownership of the land upon which the Nigerian Maritime University was built for which the federal Executive council paid a paltry 13 billion out of a projected 26billion being a buy over of Mieka Diving institute, propety of Tompolo, which property became part of the charter facility of the Nigerian Maritime University, Tompolo and some itsekiri elements were the ones the pipeline security contract was given. Soon after in the unwarranted and cynical rage of the then Hon Minister of Transportation, the contract was pulled off Tompolo and given to one of the APC ilks known for circumvention and volte face characteristics. Once this company this guy represents took over it became business as usual. Even the companys MD/CEO visited Tompolo and said he was going to offer him 900m as part of his commitment to rein in him into what they were doing in the oil river but known for being averse to greed, Tompolo refused, telling that company’s MD/CEO to go ahead with his job, that they are brothers. No one raised the issue of the scope of works given to that company then. Under the watch of that company over 80 percent of oil revenue went into private pockets. At this time the nations foreign reserves began to deplete. The sub national governments began to live by Paris loans refund. No Nigerian or CIvil societies organisations questioned the activities of that interlocutor survellance company. It took Mr Bashir Jamoh a then DG of NIMASA, even in the seeding congruence of losing his job to allege that the new company engaged in pipeline protection for NNPC and by extension ancillary revenue sourcing for NIMASA had not been able to meet its projected revenue ceiling. He insisted that a previous Messrs Global West run by Tompolo and others, evilly removed from the job by the conspiracy of evil power brokers in government then was doing better and collecting thrice as much to breaking its given fiscal ceiling. The NNPC board ruffled by the alarm coming from a government agency announced it was taking its part of the job of pipeline surveillance from that company. It was at this instance given the energy emergency, that Tantita came on a national rescue and in quick raids it conducted even against the open aversion for its operation by some elements of the military, the nation is beginning to see the results- illegal pipelines here and there have been toppled, arrest and decommissioning of bunkering vessels, sacking of kpofire artesanal activities, and other evil grandstanders running kiti kiti kata kata. Now that oil revenue has peaked the evil profiteers have re emerged and in the name of legal actions are asking for an order mandamus for Tantita to produce the scope of its assignment. I argue that Tantita has no business with any third party intruder on the job it got freehold from the NNPCL that was publicly quoted and bidded for. Any one asking for such spurious order should approach the NNPCL. I further argue that if God cannot manage his own people in Egypt but ensured all of them died in a difficult journey through the wilderness, the presidency needs to go after these evil men who ensured this countrys export output had remained at a perilous margin with concomitant effect on the country’s GDP and growth economics to clear their doubts of their evil demeanours everywhere and their accomplices. I think if the government can summon the will to do this it will checkmate this errant attitude of criminals who still want to ensure that the Nigerian State remain rentier.
The 57th Boro Day 2025 Central Zone Planning Committee has officially rolled out the schedule of events for this year’s celebration. The announcement was made by the chairman of the planning committee, Evangelist Parkins Ogede, following the committee’s maiden meeting held in Yenagoa, on Sunday 30th Match 2025.
According to the chairman, this year’s Boro Day Central Zone celebrations will serve as a platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Ijaw people. He emphasized that the events are in line with the Central Zone’s theme: “Our Heritage, Our Pride- Boro Lives on”
Scheduled Events
Day 1: Tuesday, 13th May 2025 – Boat Regatta & Wrestling
• BOAT REGATTA COMPETITION
• Participants: The 8 LGAs in the Central Zone & Abua-Odual
• Time: 10 AM
• Venue: Ox-Bow Lake, Yenagoa, BYS
• Prizes: Cash rewards for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners
• WRESTLING MATCH
• Featuring two top wrestlers from Ijaw Nation and their supporters
• Time: 5 PM
• Venue: Kaiama Town
Day 2: Wednesday, 14th May 2025 – CULTURAL DISPLAY INTER LGA COMPETITION
• Participants: The 8 LGAs in the Central Zone & Abua-Odual
• Time: 11 AM
• Venue: Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, BYS
• Prizes: Cash rewards for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners
Day 3: Thursday, 15th May 2025 – BORO MEMORIAL LECTURE, DINNER AND AWARD NIGHT.
• Venue: Golden Tulip Hotel, Onopa, Yenagoa
• Time: 2 PM
MEMORIAL FOOTBALL MATCH: IYC National Executivies/Central Zone Vs Clans in Central Zone
Time: 8am
Day 4: Friday, 16th May 2025 – BORO DAY PROCESSION PROPER
The Central Zone Planning Committee urges all participants and attendees to prepare for an exciting and memorable Boro Day 2025.