By Muhammad Mamman
Prominent Ijaw groups have cautioned Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against what they describe as growing political interference in Rivers State, insisting that no individual has the authority to determine the state’s political destiny.
The Eastern Zone of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) made the call in a joint statement issued on Thursday, urging Wike to immediately halt what they termed escalating political hostility towards Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Signed by Abel Peterside, the statement accused the former Rivers governor of actions and utterances that, according to the groups, threaten peace, democratic order and stability in the oil-rich state.
The Ijaw organisations warned that the political tensions could undermine governance and disrupt harmony in Rivers, a key hub of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
They also noted that Wike’s recent moves run contrary to the peace agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu between him and Governor Fubara on June 26, 2025, an accord aimed at easing tensions following months of political infighting.
The groups called on all stakeholders to respect the agreement and allow democratic institutions to function without intimidation or personal influence.
They stressed that Rivers State belongs to its people, not to any single political actor, and urged restraint in the interest of lasting peace and development.
