Palpable tension has enveloped Rivers State as youth sociopolitical groups under the auspices of the Niger Delta Youth Council, NDYC, has threatened to shut down oil production across the region, over the raging political impasse in the State.

Already, the youth groups have issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demanding, among others, the immediate restoration of Rivers State statutory revenue allocation, end every impeachment plot against the Rivers State Governor Similaye Fubara, as well as ensure public retraction of anti-Ijaw remarks purportedly attributed to the former Governor of the State, Hon. Nyesom Wike.

"Failure to comply could lead to a total shutdown of oil production across the region, a move that would have dire consequences for Nigeria’s already fragile economy", the group stated in an open letter to the President signed by Comrade Bene Youkore Mamamu, the NDYC President.

In the open letter, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State, on Saturday, March 15, the NDYC noted with concern that former governor Wike's comments in which he was quoted as describing the Ijaws as minority group of the minorities "is provocative and inflammatory, and a declaration of economic and political War".

The open letter partly reads, 

"We are ready to shock the world in seven days. We are prepared to take decisive action if our demands are not met within the seven days.

"The oil that fuels this nation flows from our land, the fourth largest and most populated ethnic group in Nigeria and we will not allow Wike, who is suspected of being used by the Presidency to sabotage our region and undermine Ijaw history.

"We are angry that Tinubu's government has empowered Wike and the Judiciary to undermine Ijaws and the Niger Delta region with regular threats to impeach Governor Fubara, seize the States allocation, insult late Pa Edwin Clark and rewrite the history of Ijaw Nation from fourth largest ethnic groups to minority".

Continuing, the NDYC urged its members to "mobilise to disrupt oil production across the Niger Delta region at the expiration of the seven days ultimatum".

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