The Ijaw Mothers’ Union has called for a permanent solution to the lingering political crisis in Rivers State.
Speaking at a press conference organised in Okrika, Rivers state, President Ijaw Mothers Union, Mrs Doris Macdaniels, Mrs Doris Macdaniels said the political crisis in Rivers, if not addressed, will affect the structure.
“As we reflect on our history, we must ask: Are we, as Nigerians, ready for another round of destruction in the Brac (Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River) coastal states, which produce 72% of the nation’s resources?
“Is the government prepared for the potential destruction of oil and gas facilities for the sake of one man’s political ambitions? The consequences of ignoring these issues are enormous.
“We seize this opportunity to call on our capable Governor, His Excellency Siminalaye Fubara, to develop the skills and capabilities of the Rivers youths so that they can dominate the oil and gas industry rather than being used as political thugs.
“We also thank God for using Mr President Bola Tinubu to appoint Minister Nyesom Wike to a very engaging position, which divided his attention from Rivers State.
“The Minister, as Mr Project, did an amazing job in the infrastructure of Rivers State. Please make him comfortable and give him the support to replicate his wonderful projects in FCT,” the mothers said urging the two political bigwigs in Rivers to focus on their assignments and unite Rivers people.
“We want peace, justice, and a better future for Rivers State. We will not allow the mistakes of the past to repeat themselves. We stand united as mothers, ready to protect our children and our community from the rapacious politicians threatening our peace,” the mothers said.
She said Rivers State was formed by a group of mothers across the Ijaw nation, adding that the idea was to create a community where mothers from Ijaw nations could share and voice their perspectives on political, social, and economic issues.
“Most notably, the years between 2003-2009 were a very traumatic era for Ijaw mothers due to the political upheaval that displaced our children from their communities out of the necessity to address the challenges we faced during the political turmoil from 2003 to 2009.
“Today, we are full of love and joy for everybody in Rivers State and people from other regions who reside there. By the grace of God, we have forgiven ourselves and moved on.
“We have all heard the strong warnings and threats from the FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, regarding his political structure and the insistence that it should not be tampered with. His words sent chills down our spines, especially coming from someone who was a Local Government Chairman in Obio/Akpo during the Niger Delta insurgency that witnessed all that transpired.
“The thought of the Minister potentially dragging the state back into the turmoil that once engulfed our oil production and affected the global oil market speaks volumes about the rapacious leaders we, as a people, have celebrated.
“Having experienced firsthand the crises of structural control during the Niger Delta insurgency, we are determined to preempt the Minister’s threats from escalating into a situation we would all regret. We do not want another round of bloodshed or the trauma of identifying the corpses of our sons at odd hours of the night.
“The state is currently embroiled in heated arguments, with the Minister not relenting on his threats as his few benefactors appear to be working towards chaos come 2027. Therefore, we believe the time is right to speak out, make our stance known, and call for help from the authorities responsible to nip this brewing crisis in the bud because we don’t want anybody to take us back to the dark days for personal ambition.
“As mothers, we call upon our nation’s mother, our First Lady, distinguished Senator Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, to take a special interest in the ongoing situation in Rivers State. We plead with her to investigate and uncover the truth rather than accept the lies perpetuated through political cover-ups.
“The situation has become too severe for security agencies to ignore what is fermenting right before their watch. They are aware of what has happened and the consequences that followed,” the mothers said.
They said their children in Rivers State have been out of school for years and denied gainful employment opportunities adding that civil servants were not promoted for years, and Rivers people struggled to access medical care in vain due to severely dilapidated hospital facilities and services.
“Now that our sons are returning to school and gaining access to employment, the civil servants have been promoted, the citizens and people residing in Rivers State are beginning to experience adequate medical care, and life is normalising. Rivers State is not a battleground but a sensitive state in every respect. We do not want any group to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere on our streets anymore.
“We all know that power is never given freely. Therefore, Rivers people are curious to understand the capacity, legitimacy, and forces backing Minister Barr Nyesom Wike, who believes he can forcefully change the existing structures in Rivers State without destroying our oil and gas facilities and plunging our economy into chaos.
“Are Nigerians ready for another round of crisis in the Niger Delta and a total collapse of the economy at this moment? We are praying for and supporting the president to rectify the issues that previous governments have neglected. Is this the right time to formulate another round of mayhem in a relatively peaceful Niger Delta?
“Can one politician, Barr Nyesom Wike, lead us into another disaster? Is there cynicism surrounding the Minister’s entire narrative?
Are there ulterior motives at play to strategically infuriate President Tinubu’s new hope agenda and take the baton from the President to contest the 2027 election or another unknown agenda best known to the minister?
“During the civil war, we witnessed the massive destruction of our primary resources. As a child, I saw the complete bombing of the Port Harcourt Refinery and the blowing up of oil pipelines, which reduced our production to below two hundred barrels a day. Those that believe that there is security to protect our massive oil and gas facilities in the complicated creeks of the core Niger Delta terrain should reconsider, as the youths are more than capable of causing another catastrophe.”
Giving historical context, the Ijaw mothers said before the European invaders arrived, there were no formal structures; only indigenous clans were governed by “Alapu” (plural for “Alabo”).
“We had powerful kings and native foot soldiers we respected as leaders. Many of our kings were exiled to Europe by the colonial powers due to their resistance to the greedy European merchants.
“The first significant political and economic structural change occurred in 1884, with consequences that affected everyone in present-day Nigeria. The Royal African Company (RAC) received a charter from the British government to trade in Nigeria’s coastal areas, but King Frederick Koko of Nembe rejected their trade terms, leading to hostility between the RAC and the Brass people.
“The Royal African Company (RAC) imposed levies on the Brass people, restricting their access to the coast for their livelihoods; with the development, King Koko convened a meeting with other chiefs, and they agreed to fight for their rights rather than die of hunger. This led to the infamous Akasa Raid, where the premises of the Royal African Company (RAC) were invaded, and hostages were taken. Some were released alive, while others were killed and eaten in a cannibalistic ritual.
“The Royal African Company (RAC) retaliated by invading the small town with the Royal Navy and massacring the inhabitants, including women and children. The consequences of the colonial hostility to impose a new structure that denied the host community free trade were unacceptable to King Koko and his people. This led to the expansion of the Niger Delta protectorate and the eventual amalgamation of Nigeria.
“This historical context illustrates how political structure agitation can go wrong, as seen with the Royal African Company (RAC), which ultimately lost its charter due to its despotic policies. The amalgamation of Nigeria was met with protests from the Niger Delta, and despite promises of development funds, these were never released.
“The civil war further exemplified the disastrous consequences of political control struggles, leading to widespread destruction and loss of life in Igbo land. The Niger Delta insurgency, apart from the destruction of our oil facilities, plunged our oil production below 200 bpd. Another twist was the introduction of kidnapping as a means of protest, this originated when the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, detained Asari Dokubo, and the Niger Delta youths were livid and demanded the oil workers to leave the Niger Delta region. Some workers left, and the ones that stayed behind became victims of the Niger Delta youths kidnapping rampage, which has since become a lucrative enterprise with dire consequences” she said.
On the current challenges and future outlook, the mothers said the political struggles in Rivers State have left deep scars.
“The Ijaw people have firsthand experience of the consequences of political structural control. The insurgency was rooted in grievances over resource control and has led to a culture of violence and mistrust,” they added
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Tinubu confers Fellowship on 91 Security Institute graduates
By Chizoba Ogbeche
Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has conferred fellowship of the Secuity Institute (fsi) on 91 graduates of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EMIC) of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Abuja.
The investiture ceremony of an unprecedented number of graduates brought to a close the National Institute’s Course 17 following the completion of the 10-month Artificial Intelligence-themed Inter-Agency Security Intelligence Training for 2024 participants.
The historic event which took place on December 7, at NISS, Lower Usuma Dam, Abuja, was an unprecedented demonstration of inter-agency collaboration, security and intelligence training, featuring participants from African noations including Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Chad, Rwanda and Ghana.
President Tinubu, who was represented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, while acknowledging the exemplary and astute leadership of the new Director General Department of State Service (DGSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, noted that the landmark event would remain indelible in the annals of the Agency.
The president described the historic conferment of Fellow of Security Institute (fsi) on 91 graduates, including foreign participants, the first since the inception of the flagship programme, as a redefining point in inter-agency collaboration, evident in the strong presence of various security chiefs and erstwhile DGs.
He urged the graduates to take advantage of knowledge acquired during the course to enhance intelligence production, cross-agency collaboration, and national security management efforts.
The president also committed to supporting the NISS and the DSS, noting that the DGSS bringing his predecessors together was a clear message in bolstering unity of purpose, in the interest of the Service.
Also, speaking the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima,
urged the newly commissioned Fellows to rise to the challenges of modern national security threats, which he stated demands more than traditional military tactics.
He emphasized that the course’s focus on AI will enhance the nation’s security architecture through technology-driven countermeasures.
On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, and former Governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, lauded the solidarity and presence of former DGs of the Service, noting that, the unison will be instrumental to the overall success of NISS and DSS at large.
He urged elected officials to emulate the virtues of consolidating the legacies of previous administrations and to leverage the Service’s expertise for national development. Instructively, he solicited increased funding to support DSS’ core mandate and advocated clear communication of government policies to enhance governance.
In the same vein, the Senate President, Senator Goedwill Akpabio, acknowledged the National Institute’s commitment to developing security leaders and urged graduates to consider their experience as a call to duty and national service beyond personal growth.
The Senate President, who was represented by Professor Anthony Ani, lamented the country’s current security challenges, which he said have exposed the economy and polity to transnational threats.
He commended the choice of AI theme for the course, stating that it was a step towards lasting solutions; just as he appreciated the DGSS’s efforts in fostering collaboration among relevant agencies and encouraged the Service to continue addressing the root causes of insecurity.
In his welcome address, the DGSS expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for appointing him helmsman of the elite organisation and honouring the Service.
He highlighted the evolution of NISS, tracing its origin from Abuja Training School (ATS), established by the DSS in 1999, which later became Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in 2008, dedicated to training senior officers in Advanced Security and Intelligence Policy Making, at the end of which qualified participants were conferred with Fellow of Security Institute (fsi); a criterion for advancement into management cadre.
The agency boss explained that the Institute was elevated to its current status through the NISS Bill signed into Law in June 2019, by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr. Ajayi noted that the elevation placed NISS at par with National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and the National Defence College (NDC), while maintaining its strong coordination by the DSS.
He emphasized the National Institute’s expanded mandate to conduct Research and Policy Training for security, intelligence, law enforcement, and regulatory agencies across Nigeria and Africa, with representatives from other intelligence agencies, DIA and NIA, on its board and a strengthened sub-regional focus. Mr. Ajayi further underscored the crucial role of inter-agency synergy in addressing security challenges, expressing confidence in the enhanced security capabilities of Nigeria, thanks to the collaborative efforts demonstrated by the current service chiefs led by the NSA.
Also, in attendance were other dignitaries including Minister of the FCT, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, representative of the Speaker the House of Representatives, and Chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Hon Satomi Ahmad, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.
Others include the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (OFR), representatives of the Service Chief/Inspector General of Police (IGP), representatives of Paramilitary Agencies, six former DGSS, Defence Attachés/Diplomats, Royal Fathers led by Emir of Gumi, Justice Lawal Hassan Gumi, among others.
