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Ijaw Mothers Seek Permanent Solution To Rivers Crisis
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
The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has engaged in a high-level security meeting with a leading Chinese manufacturer of advanced anti-terrorism and high-tech defence equipment, aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s defence capabilities.
The meeting, which took place in China, underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the nation’s security apparatus to combat insurgency and other threats.
According to a statement signed by the minister’s Personal Assistant (Media), Ahmad Dan-Wudil, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the engagement focused on formalising a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chinese firm and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
The collaboration is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s security sector, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s defence framework.
The MoU outlines a robust partnership, with the Chinese company committing to significant investments in Nigeria’s defence infrastructure.
According to the statement, Key components of the agreement include the transfer of cutting-edge defence technology, the establishment of local manufacturing capabilities for advanced military equipment, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance the technical skills of Nigerian personnel.
“This move is seen as a step towards building a self-reliant and globally competitive military-industrial base.
Dr. Matawalle emphasised that the partnership represents a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s defence modernisation agenda.
“This collaboration will not only strengthen our fight against terrorism but also position Nigeria as a regional leader in defence technology,” he stated.
The minister highlighted the government’s determination to leverage international partnerships to address the nation’s evolving security challenges.
Under the terms of the agreement, new production lines will be established for various ammunition types, including 7.62x51mm ball cartridges, 7.62x51mm blank cartridges, 9x19mm pistol cartridges, and machine gun ammunition.
Additionally, manufacturing workshops and facilities will be set up in Kaduna and Kachia, Kaduna State, to produce essential defence components such as brass casings and bullet jackets.
The partnership extends beyond production, encompassing the maintenance and upgrading of existing military hardware, servicing of battle tanks, and the provision of military engineering services.
These efforts are expected to enhance the operational readiness of the Nigerian Armed Forces, enabling them to respond more effectively to security threats within the country and across the region.
The minister’s visit to China follows a series of engagements with international partners, including the United States and Saudi Arabia, as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to strengthen bilateral defence ties.
In a recent meeting with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Dr. Matawalle called for increased support in intelligence sharing and counterterrorism efforts, underscoring the need for global cooperation to tackle insecurity.
The agreement with the Chinese firm has been hailed as a critical step towards achieving President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises security, economic development, and private-sector involvement.
The minister reiterated the government’s openness to foreign investment in critical sectors such as defence, steel, and energy to drive technological advancement and job creation.
Gamblers are staking millions of dollars to predict who will emerge as new pope as betting sites place odds on the candidates as the Catholic Church cardinals sweat to pick a new pontiff.
Polymarket, an American cryptocurrency-based betting site, has placed odds on candidates who will emerge.
Similarly, Kalshi, another American betting site, is coordinating predictions on who emerges as the new Catholic pope.
On Polymarket, over $21 million worth of bets have been staked in the conclave election, in which Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are considered the leading candidates.
Mr Parolin leads with 27 per cent odds, while Mr Tagle comes second with 23 per cent odds. Matteo Zuppi, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Peter Erdo came third, fourth and fifth with 11, 10 and 7 per cent odds, respectively.
On Kalshi, where over $8milliom has been staked, Mr Parolin leads with 29 per cent odds, followed by Mr Tagle’s 22 per cent odds and Mr Pizzaballa’s 10 per cent odds.
This comes as 133 cardinals from across the globe commenced a conclave to decide who would emerge as the new pope on Thursday.
Though conclave elections have been highly unpredictable for years, gamblers throw in thousands of dollars for a possible kill should their candidate emerge.
In 2013, contrary to projections on the possible emergence of Cardinal Angelo Scola, who was then regarded as the favourite, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged as Pope Francis.
On Wednesday, thick black smoke billows from the Sistine Chapel chimney at the end of the first meeting of the cardinals, signalling that no pope has been elected.
The election of the 267th pope, which commenced on Wednesday. A new pope will poll a two-thirds majority to emerge during the election process.
Then, white smoke will be released from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
President Bola Tinubu has mandated the formation of a Presidential Task Force aimed at eliminating numerous checkpoints that impede free movement.
Ambassador Musa Nuhu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, revealed this initiative during a visit to the Nigeria-Benin Republic border in Seme on Wednesday.
“We are commencing with the Seme-Badagry Corridor. A committee has been established under the auspices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and we will soon begin addressing this matter.
“We have taken note of all the concerns raised, and I assure you that the Nigerian government will tackle the other issues mentioned subsequently.”
Numerous complaints have surfaced regarding the excessive checkpoints along the Badagry-Seme corridor, which adversely affect the seamless movement of individuals and goods between Nigeria and the Benin Republic.
Ambassador Nuhu emphasized, “This is the most trafficked border in West Africa regarding the flow of goods, people, and services. If free movement is to be effectively implemented in West Africa, it will be evident at this border.”
Motorists attending the meeting expressed their frustrations about the numerous checkpoints and the extortion practices by security personnel along the route.
In response, Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, stated that any fees paid by motorists should be accompanied by official receipts.
He expressed concern that the proliferation of checkpoints and the extortion of citizens within member states undermine ECOWAS’s goal of fostering a more integrated region.
“While we must inspect passengers and road users, we should move beyond arbitrary charges that lack receipts. If payments are necessary, they should be properly documented.
“It is one thing to request that someone open their bags for inspection, but it is entirely different to demand payment that is not receipted.”