Peaceful protests rocked Rivers State on Friday, December 22, as groups from different walks of life and ethnic nationalities marched on the streets of Port Harcourt, the state capital to register their displeasure against the Abuja peace deal that temporarily calmed the political crisis in the state.
Hundreds of the stakeholders, who came from different parts of Rivers, vowed to occupy the state including critical Infrastructures from January 1st to 30th 2024 in opposition to any plan to honour any part of the resolution.
They warned the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, against implementing any part of the peace document saying Rivers would not be enslaved by any individual.
The protesters, who blocked the Government House in Port Harcourt said they would occupy the International Airport, Port Harcourt, Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone, NLNG Bonny, SPDC facilities, Total E&P, Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, the East-West Road, the Federal Secretariat, the state secretariat, all markets and waterways.
They said: “It is, therefore, the absolute resolve of the people of Rivers State and indeed the entire Niger Delta to resort to self-help by any non-violent means possible to ensure our dignity as a people is not trampled upon.
“We, therefore, call on all Rivers people, indigenes and residents and the entire Niger Delta people to get prepared and ready to occupy Rivers State”.
They described the resolution as a sham and national embarrassment saying it posed fundamental threats to the nation’s democracy.
The protesters wondered why part of the resolutions barred Fubara from exercising his constitutional duties of constituting caretaker committees for local government areas while the APC-led government in Imo and Ondo states adopted the caretaker arrangement.
They said: “A critical analysis of the purported resolutions reveals a barrage of illegalities and more so at no point was the interest of the good people of Rivers State mentioned or even accommodated”.
They called on the Inspector-General of Police to probe an allegation that some security officers had been hired to unleash mayhem in the state.
They said: “May we announce to the Executive Governor, Sir. Siminalayi Fubara, that Rivers State people massively voted him into the office and therefore cannot allow him to bring the people into disrepute by signing such agreement that is akin to selling our collective hegemony to one individual”.
They argued that the seats of the 25 lawmakers, who defected to the APC would remain vacant adding that the 2024 Budget had already been passed and could only be altered by a judgement of the judiciary.
Among those, who signed the position document of the protesters were leaders of the National Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Greater Wakiriki Movement (GWM), National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS), National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Rivers Youths Federation (RYF), Ijaw Young Professional Association (IYPA), ANDONI Youths Federation (AYF), Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), Niger Delta Activist Forum (NDAF), United Community Development Committee (UDCD) among others.
Some of the leaders, whose signatures appeared on the document were Chijioke Inuwo, Levi Sam Okuru, Tamuno Kpokpo, Harrison Nwosu, Fubara Samuel, Inwoni Urang, Peter Ohochukwu, Chief Mike Amakiri among others
