Rivers: Wike, Fubara reconciliation suffers setback

More than two weeks after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, attempts to broker peace between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike remain stalled, with no visible progress in reconciliation efforts.

Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state legislature were suspended for six months following the political crisis that gripped the state. The National Assembly swiftly approved the President’s emergency declaration and proposed a reconciliation committee, yet no substantial steps have been taken since.

Sources within the state have indicated that the inaction stems partly from the role played by some key leaders during the crisis. According to a political insider from the Ijaw community, many of these figures failed to remain impartial and instead aligned themselves with either Wike or Fubara.

“Those that should have led us out of the woods this time around took sides in the crisis. They lack the credibility to call the two parties to a roundtable,” the source said.

He added: “Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who should have led the peace talks at this time, was pushed to side with Governor Fubara in the crisis. The Ijaw National Congress (INC), led by Prof. Benjamin Okaba, disappointed the Ijaw through its obvious partiality in the matter. Prof. Okaba did not help matters at all. The body can no longer be deployed to ensure genuine reconciliation. The leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) also took a position in the crisis.”

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He further lamented the political polarization: “You remember that all the elders in Rivers are already divided into Wike’s or Fubara’s elders. These are people that should have risen to the occasion at this point, but they no longer command the respect that can foster genuine reconciliation. As it stands, there is nothing visible being done to kick-start any reconciliation.”

As the political uncertainty deepens, Governor Fubara has reportedly returned to his private residence in Port Harcourt, while several lawmakers are said to be abroad.

In a strongly worded critique, President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Jonathan Lokpobiri, faulted the Ijaw community for mishandling the situation.

“Permit me to reflect on the state we are as Ijaw nation regarding the state of emergency in Rivers,” he said. “I can, with all sense of responsibility and conviction, state that if we had applied wisdom in the management of this crisis in Rivers, we would not be where we are today. Instead of using wisdom in matters we can nip in the bud, we chose to threaten war that we were not prepared for. I have seen over times that emotion has never won a war. But planning and strategic consultations do.”

Lokpobiri added: “People in the name of struggle, even in the matters we can nip in the bud and caution ourselves internally, rush to the media and threaten war and give the enemies an opportunity to fortify themselves for it, and when the war comes, we no longer speak.”

He emphasized that careless rhetoric from some leaders derailed potential peace efforts. “People speak carelessly in an attempt to put an ethnic group into a war that is avoidable. For those who threatened fire and brimstone, the war came but I didn’t hear their voices anymore. We must be wise in prosecuting the struggles of the Niger Delta.”

“If this was how our leaders went about their struggle, I am not sure anybody would have respected the Ijaw nation. Most of those making unguarded statements are people we clap for without cautioning them. There is no war between Ijaw and Ikwerre and any other ethnic group. If the Ikwerre ethnic group had responded to our unguarded statements, there would be war already in Rivers,” he added.

While backing a return to governance for Fubara, Lokpobiri called for caution. “Sometimes wisdom is stronger than the arms we think we have gathered. If we had solved this problem internally as we advised earlier, we wouldn’t get to this embarrassing moment of a state of emergency. I expected missiles to flow when this state of emergency was declared, but those who threatened the war never said anything anymore.”

Meanwhile, President of the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Kennedy Tonjo-West, said he has initiated consultations aimed at launching the reconciliation process.

“I am already undertaking some consultations so that the process of reconciliation can start on time. We want Rivers to return to a process of reconciliation without any delay,” he stated.

Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas (rtd), appointed as Rivers State’s Sole Administrator, officially took office on March 20 following the emergency declaration.

Rivers: Wike, Fubara reconciliation suffers setback

How scavenger triggered explosion of military grenade in Lagos

The bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba, in the Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State was triggered by a scavenger.

The explosion claimed the life of the scavenger and left three others severely injured.

Findings by Chronicle NG revealed that the scavenger was attempting to dismantle military-grade grenades with the intention of collecting them as part of the scrap metal he was searching for.

The yet-to-be-identified scavenger was handling one of the grenades when it detonated, killing him instantly.

Three other victims, whose names and addresses are also unknown, sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

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SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident.

He said, “At 13:30 hours on April 3, 2025, a distress call was received by the EOD unit based in Ikeja that there was a bomb explosion on Taiwo Street, Idi-Araba. Our team of EOD-CBRN operatives was swiftly mobilised to the scene.

“On arrival, the team ensured the area was safe, and after a thorough inspection, it was discovered that the explosion was caused by military-grade grenades that had been tampered with by a scavenger who was trying to split one of them. Sadly, the scavenger lost his life at the scene, while three others were injured and taken to a nearby hospital.”

Hundeyin also confirmed that the scene was secured and photographed and crucial evidence was collected for analysis.

“The deceased’s body has been moved to a public mortuary for autopsy, and an investigation has been initiated. Further developments will be communicated,” he added.

How scavenger triggered explosion of military grenade in Lagos

Pro-Wike rally organisers insist on holding event despite court order

A planned rally in support of President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, scheduled for April 12 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, is expected to proceed as planned despite a court order purportedly halting the gathering.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, George Turnah, factional South-South Zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the court ruling has been misinterpreted and does not stop their event.

According to Turnah, the gathering is being hosted by a group called New Associates and is meant to launch the Bayelsa State chapter of the group. He clarified it is also an opportunity to thank President Tinubu for appointing several Bayelsa natives into key government roles.

He stated: “Our rally, as we have said and made public, is for the purpose of inaugurating a group called and known as the New Associates, Bayelsa State Chapter, and then to thank and appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing notable sons and daughters of Bayelsa State into positions of trust in the country. That is the purpose. It is not the purpose that this court’s order captures.”

Turnah argued that the court order did not mention banning rallies for the reasons they intend, saying: “We are going ahead. We are going ahead.”

“It’s just like saying ‘Don’t hold press conference in Cubana Hotel for the purpose of listening to George Turner.’ It doesn’t stop practitioners from holding press conference in Cubana for the purpose of listening to Jeremiah,” he explained.

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He emphasized that no plans had been made to invite Minister Wike to the rally.

“There was no time that we as a group, gave out a notice that we are going to host Minister Wike,” he said. “Wike, as of today, is not in our plans or programme to be in Bayelsa. We have not even extended invitations to Wike to come.”

However, he acknowledged Wike’s indirect role in helping Bayelsa citizens by recommending them for key positions. “While thanking Mr. President, we will also say thank you, Wike, for recommending and trusting that this class of persons can contribute to helping Mr. President deliver on his mandate,” Turnah added.

He dismissed claims that Wike’s rumoured visit was part of the rally, saying such talk is political. He also criticised the introduction of ethnic sentiments into the situation, warning it could harm national unity.

Turnah said they did not owe any explanations to Governor Douye Diri: “We don’t owe the governor and it’s a private group. We don’t owe him, we are not inviting him, so we don’t need to inform him.”

“The level of incitement against my person by Governor Diri can be likened to, in the words of Governor Fubara, ‘when a man cocks a gun, and maybe because the gun is in safety and the bullets didn’t come out, the man has already killed you.’”

Turnah added, “Let it be known by all the people of Bayelsa State, the Ijaw Nation, and Nigeria that on the 28th of March 2025, His Excellency, Sen. Douye Diri, Governor of my State, pulled a dangerous trigger against me but, to the glory of God, I am still alive today to tell the story.”

He said he remains committed to peaceful political engagement and credited former President Goodluck Jonathan for shaping his political life.

“My gratitude to him and his entire household, particularly my mother and his dear wife, Dame Dr Patience Jonathan, is for life,” he said. “I shall continue to be guided by the virtues of loyalty, humility, kindness, affection, dedication, commitment, trustworthiness, and self-discipline instilled in me by my mentor of all times, and father, President Jonathan.”

Pro-Wike rally organisers insist on holding event despite court order