INC again urges FG to exercise caution in handling crisis
*Says judgment stopping federal allocations to Rivers is abuse of basic principles of federalism
President of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba has again urged the Federal Government to exercise caution in managing the political crisis in Rivers State, warning that if the injustice, oppression and abuse of power perpetrated against Governor Siminilayi Fubara continue unchecked, the consequences might be grievous.
Okaba, who spoke on the occasion of the ten anniversary celebration of the Ijaw Women Connect (IWC) held weekend in Warri, specifically decried the recent Abuja based federal high court judgment directing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop Federal allocations to Rivers State., describing it as unconstitutional.
His words “Permit me again to use this auspicious occasion to advise the Tinubu led federal Government to be very cautious in managing the crisis in Rivers State. We feel obliged to warn again that if the injustice, oppression and abuse of power perpetrated against the Governor of Rivers State continue unchecked, the consequences might be very grievous.
“The recent Abuja based federal court judgment directing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop Federal allocations to the state can be best described as the product of judicious rascality.
“It is equally unconstitutional and a flagrant abuse of basic principles of federalism when you attempt to deny a state (not just any state but Rivers State with her enormity in all ramifications). We maybe will fast forwarding the declaration of the Late Governor of Bayelsa State Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha that “When you deny the people their inalienable right to their God given wealth you should be getting ready to beg to obtain 1% of the same resources/allocation”.
“This judgment is in its entirety condemnable and provocative. However, the ljaw National Congress beckons on all members of Congress and lovers of peace and justice to remain calm and steadfast in their prayers and support for Governor Siminilayi Fubara and the ljaw nation. This madness of a judgment will not stand the test of time because 20 years ago, the Supreme Court of this same country declined an application to withhold allocations to Lagos state.”
On the Ijaw Women Connect, IWC, Okaba applauded the leadership (past and present) of the body for not only clocking ten years of existence as one of the most formidable gender based organisation in the country but for importantly for their impactful service delivery and intervention across Ijaw communities in raising the living conditions and protecting the rights of the vulnerable, including women and children.
“The INC is glad and proud to be associated with your organization and all the efforts you have put in place to create awareness in ljaw women and girl child of their fundamental human rights, obligations, privileges, opportunities and access to economic empowerment and social justice.
“The INC appreciates your choice of the theme of today’s program. “Re-imagining the ljaw Struggle and the Quest for Gender inclusion in Strengthening Regional Development”
“There can be no better time and space to interrogate the ljaw Question and the imperative for all inclusivity, than now. The need to redefine, rejig and re-evaluate the real meaning and true essence of the ljaw struggle for self-determination cannot be over emphasized, particularly as our nation Nigeria is passing through series of complexities that require the ljaw nation to be well prepared for any eventuality.
“No doubt, the operationalization of the struggle has metamorphosed through several phases that have affected the character, intent and passion of what our forefathers had bequeathed to us several years ago,” he said.
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