The sociocultural organisation of the Ijaw ethnic nationality in the Niger Delta region, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has called on the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, to call to order the immediate-past Governor of Rivers State, who is currently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nyesom Wike, over alleged plots to impeach Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Recall that Nigerians awoke on Monday, October 30, to media reports of about 23 lawmakers who convened in the Rivers State House of Assembly's Complex to begin an impeachment process on the Rivers State Governor, a situation that sparked protests around the Complex and led to gunshot with teargas fired as security officials chased people, including workers whose offices are located within the area. An explosion was also reported on Sunday night at the assembly complex that sparked a fire which razed the chamber.

Reacting to the incident, the INC, led by Prof. Benjamin Okaba, in a press statement it released on Monday, alleged that the call for impeachment on Governor Fubara was masterminded by former governor Wike due to the former's refusal to be his stooge, a development it said was worrisome as the act could trigger unrest in the region, particularly as the governor has only been barely five months in office.

Part of the statement reads: "The attention of the Ijaw National Congress has been drawn to a grand plot masterminded by the immediate past governor of Rivers State, now the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to unlawfully impeach the duly elected Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Similaye Fubara, who is barely five months in office as Governor of Rivers State.

"The INC considers this development very worrisome and capable of generating an unwarranted state of insecurity and instability that can throw the entire Niger Delta and the Nigerian economy into serious crises.

"From reports gathered, Governor Fubara has nothing wrong to warrant his removal except for the fact that he has decided not to remain a stooge to the immediate past Governor," the statement hinted.

Going forward, the INC condemned what it termed as "unconstitutional act" the move to impeach the governor and called on President Tinubu to stop the governor from interfering with Rivers State governance, warning that it is closely watching the events and will act in due time.

"The INC therefore condemns in its entirety this barbaric, selfish, nepotistic, and unconstitutional act capable of derailing the process of democratic consolidation in Nigeria.

"Wike should be advised to concentrate on his responsibilities as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and stop interfering and arm swinging the political machinery in Rivers State to advance his personal and selfish desires.

"The INC is hereby calling on Mr. President and Commander in Chief, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to call his FCT Minister to order. The INC is calling on all Ijaw sons, daughters and friends to rally their support to the Governor of Rivers State as an injustice to one Ijaw is an injustice to over forty (40) million Ijaw people across the world," the INC added.

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