The development of Gurara Suleja and Tafa Federal Constituency……..My Priority
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been called upon by Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) from Niger Delta region, to remove the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike or risk being voted out in his 2027 re-election bid.
Thousands of IYC members disclosed this in a mass protest on Tuesday when they blocked the East/West Road for over ten hours, disrupting economic activities and vowing to sustain their demonstrations if their demand is not met.
Speaking with Vanguard, IYC President, Dr. Alaye Theophilus, who led the protest, said the action was in response to what he described as insulting remarks made by Wike against the Ijaw people.
Theophilus said “The youths have come out today to say enough is enough. The FCT Minister’s uncomplimentary statements about the Ijaw Nation are unacceptable. We are here to demand that President Tinubu call him to order,”
According to him, if nothing is done by Present Tinubu on before march 21, they will resumed protest again.
“We cannot allow one man to cause problems in Rivers State and disrespect the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality as if he is an emperor. Wike’s claim that the Ijaw are a ‘minority within the minorities’ is an insult taken too far.”
The IYC leader blamed Wike for the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, warning that President Tinubu would bear responsibility if the situation escalates.
“The East/West Road is a major economic artery connecting the Niger Delta to Lagos and the Northeast. Continued protests will disrupt businesses and economic activities, but we have the constitutional right to peacefully express our grievances.”
The demonstration included Ijaw youths from Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States. The protesters emphasized that while their demonstration was peaceful, they could not guarantee future restraint if tensions continued to escalate.
The IYC urged the federal government to act swiftly to prevent further disruptions and protect the economic stability of the region.
