According to The Guardian news, The ongoing political crisis in Rivers State has taken a dramatic and alarming turn as the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has threatened to shut down oil production in the Niger Delta if the state’s political instability continues to escalate. The IYC’s warning comes in response to the 48-hour deadline issued by the Rivers State House of Assembly for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the 2025 state budget. The lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, resumed their sitting following a Supreme Court ruling and insisted that the governor submit the budget by March 5, 2025. This ultimatum has raised concerns within the IYC, which sees the move as part of a broader political scheme that could destabilize the state and lead to an attempt to impeach the governor.
The IYC, in a strongly worded statement, has called on President Bola Tinubu and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to intervene in order to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. The group expressed deep apprehension that the mounting political tension in Rivers State could severely affect Nigeria’s oil production, which is vital to the nation’s economy. The Niger Delta region, where Rivers State is located, is the country’s primary oil-producing area, and any disruption to the industry could lead to significant economic repercussions.
Representing the IYC, Chairman Prince Datolu Sukubo and Secretary Tamunokuro Dango condemned what they described as attempts by political elements to destabilize the state’s leadership for personal gain. They specifically pointed to the recent Supreme Court ruling that nullified the election of local government chairmen, which the IYC believes has been manipulated by certain political figures to serve their own interests. According to the IYC, these actions pose a direct threat to the democratic mandate of the people of Rivers State, who democratically elected their governor and other officials.
The IYC further warned that the withholding of Rivers State’s allocation as a political maneuver would have dire consequences for the state’s development and its civil servants. They argued that the economic welfare of Rivers residents should not be sacrificed in the pursuit of political agendas. Any move to restrict the state’s financial resources, they cautioned, would not only hinder ongoing development projects but would also deepen the hardships faced by the local population, especially workers in the public sector.
The Ijaw Youth Council’s statement also made clear that the group would not stand by idly if the political crisis in Rivers State leads to economic deprivation. They warned that if the state is deprived of its fair share of resources and its economic rights are undermined, the IYC would take drastic measures that could impact Nigeria’s oil production on a national scale. The group sees this as not just an attack on the leadership of Rivers State, but also on the will of its people, who have chosen their leaders through the democratic process.
In their words, they said “if Rivers State is starved of it’s economic right due to one man, we will also starve Nigeria”.
In light of these tensions, the IYC has urged all parties involved to prioritize dialogue and seek peaceful resolutions to the crisis. The group emphasized that the development of Rivers State and the well-being of its people should not be jeopardized due to political maneuvering. They remain firm in their commitment to defending the rights of the Ijaw people and ensuring that their voices are heard within Nigeria’s political landscape.
“If Rivers State is starved of its economic rights by those who wish to monopolize its economy, we will take measures to starve the economy of Nigeria,” the IYC leadership declared in their statement.
As the situation in Rivers State continues to unfold, the IYC’s threat to disrupt oil production in the Niger Delta underscores the potentially far-reaching consequences of the political crisis. With the national economy so closely tied to the region’s oil industry, the actions of political leaders in Rivers State could send shockwaves throughout the country, further complicating an already tense and volatile situation. The coming days are likely to be critical in determining whether this conflict can be resolved peacefully or if the IYC’s warning will turn into a full-blown economic standoff.
