Fubara Resumes as Rivers Governor, as Ijaw Youths Demand EFCC Arrest of Ikenga Ugochinyere

By Benjamin Okala, Port Harcourt

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has formally resumed duties at the Government House, Port Harcourt, today following the expiration of the six-month emergency rule imposed on Rivers State. The return of the governor marks a significant moment in the state’s political trajectory, but it has also been greeted with stern warnings from his Ijaw ethnic nationality.

Ijaw youth associations, under different umbrellas, declared in strong terms that they would no longer tolerate Governor Fubara being misled into political crises by external actors whom they described as mercenaries. They alleged that certain figures had deliberately misinformed and manipulated the governor, pushing him into needless conflicts that serve only selfish interests.

At the center of their grievances is Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, a serving lawmaker in Abuja who hails from Imo State. The youths accused him of defrauding Rivers State to the tune of N63 billion within a period of three months. According to them, Ugochinyere allegedly deceived the governor into releasing the funds under the pretext of managing political crises, influencing judicial outcomes, and maintaining the structure of a party they described as nebulous the Action People’s Party (APP).

Speaking in Port Harcourt on behalf of the leaders of the various Ijaw youth groups, Comrade Pere Azazi said the time had come to draw the line. He emphasized that the governor must focus on the real task of governance which is delivering infrastructure, jobs, and security rather than allow himself to be dragged into the schemes of individuals who neither represent the interest of Rivers State nor that of the Ijaw nation.

The youths further announced that they had banned Ikenga Ugochinyere from ever stepping foot into Rivers State. They stressed that any attempt by him to breach this directive would be resisted. Their warning underscores the rising ethnic and political tensions in the state, especially in the aftermath of the emergency rule.

They also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to swing into action immediately. The demand was for the anti-graft body to investigate and arrest Ugochinyere over the alleged embezzlement, insisting that Rivers people deserved to know how such a colossal sum of money was handled.

The groups argued that unless decisive action was taken, Rivers State risked sliding back into political instability. They maintained that accountability and transparency must remain the watchwords of Fubara’s administration if he was to enjoy the confidence of the people.

As the governor settles back into office, the mood in Rivers State remains tense but expectant. While many citizens welcomed the end of emergency rule as an opportunity for peace and development, the fiery declaration by Ijaw youths has placed the spotlight squarely on the relationship between Fubara and his alleged advisers. Whether the administration can navigate this storm without fresh upheavals may well determine the future stability of the state.