THE PRESS BRIEFING OF THE RIVERS LIBERATION COALITION OF NGO's ON THE CURRENT HAPPENINGS IN RIVERS STATE DATED SATURDAY 4th OF NOVEMBER, 2023.

Theme: THAT RIVERS STATE MAY SURVIVE.

Gentle men of the Press,
We have decided to call you today to let you know that as members of the above-mentioned group, we are no longer comfortable with what is happening in Rivers State, wherein the Executive Governor of Rivers State and members of Rivers State House of Assembly, has been conscripted into not performing thier Executive and Legislative functions without approval from the Honourable Minister for FCT, HE Nyesom Wike.

It is no longer news that the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, was served with an impeachment notice on Monday, 30th October 2023, barely five months into assumption of office, and this is the first time in the history of mankind and of Nigeria and Africa at large that such would be happening. This is as a result of total control and concessioning of state powers into the hands of one man called HE Nyesom Wike, the Honourable Minister for FCT.

We can not fold our hands and watch our dear governor continue to die in silence and shame. Hence, we have decided to rise up to help our governor to have a breathe of fresh air, having been surrounded by almost all officials of the immediate past administration who are there to monitor and give vital and classified state informations to their pay master who think he can pocket Rivers State.

We condemn entirely the actions of the suspended members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the former Speaker, Hon Marthins Amaewhule, who allowed themselves to be used to course crisis in Rivers State. It is disheartening to note that despite the known fact that the Assembly Chambers was set ablaze on Sunday night and without probing into what led to the burning of the Assembly Chambers and other security measures to stop such act, and seek for alternative place to sit from the state government before possible repair of the Chambers. Instead, they were aided by the police to sit outside the Chambers in their resolve to serve the Executive Governor of Rivers State with an impeachment notice. What a legislative rascality.

We also totally condemn the unprofessional actions of the police who aided some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to sit outside the Chambers despite the security situation and the direct attack on the Executive Governor of Rivers State. Sir Siminalayi Fubara was teargas and shut at with water canon's by the police led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations. For reference purposes, the commissioner of police in Rivers State should ask and learn from the actions of his predecessor especially "Mr Joseph Mbu" and see whether all his negative acts against Rivers people were commensurate to what he got from the same Nyesom Wike his then pay master, who used and dump him. We wish to remind him that because of the actions of Joseph Mbu against Rivers State, Rivers people today see him as an enemy and wish never to meet such an unprofessional police officer again.

We are aware that some political chiefs loyal to HE Nyesom Wike issued a press statement where they condemned the actions of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and also advised him to apologise to his predecessor HE Nyesom Wike, even when the governor never said anything wrong against Wike. What type of elders are they that do not have regards and respect to the office of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, and cannot speak the truth? This action of the so-called Rivers Elders led by Chief Ferdinand Anabraba is condemnable, and we condemn it entirely.

We have deemed it necessary not to allow our dear Rivers State to be pocketed by one man called HE Nyesom Wike, and we therefore state as follows;

1. That HE Sir Siminalayi Fubara must rise up to fully take charge of the state powers that has been vested in him by Rivers people, and should exercise same as the Executive Governor of Rivers State without fear or favour.

2. That HE Sir Sim Fubara has not committed any impeachable offence within this his five months in office, and we will never allow any group to remove him illegally

3. That the Inspector General of Police should, without further delay, redeploy the Commissioner of Police and the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, for their direct attack on the office of the governor of Rivers State.

4. That until the Rivers State Government provides alternative place for the members of Rivers State House to sit, since the Chambers has been set ablaze, we will resist any attempt by any group of persons to sit in the name of Rivers State House of Assembly.

5. That President Tinubu should call his minister, Nyesom Wike, to order because of the negative use of his name to influence the security agencies in the state and course civil unrest in Rivers State.

6. That the Nyesom Wike loyal elders led by Chief Ferdinand Anabraba should stop publicly embarrassing Rivers people, because of what they are getting from him and must forthwith, respect the office of the Executive Governor of Rivers State.

7. That we will resist all attempts by Nyesom Wike to illegally remove Sir Siminalayi Fubara as the Governor of Rivers State because Rivers State is not his personal estate.

8. That we will resist anyone, including Nyesom Wike and his loyal elders, who may attempt to frustrate this relative peace we are enjoying in Rivers State.

9. That the former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Marthins Amaewhule, should stop deceiving people that he is still the speaker since he has been impeached and also other Assembly members led by Marthins Amaewhule who have been suspended should go and make peace with the leadership of the Assembly led by Hon Edison Ehie as the Speaker.

Gentle men of the Press, it is based on all these and many more, that we want to let the world know that Rivers people have decided to stand by their governor, and we will stop at nothing to protect the sanctity of Rivers State.

Thank you, and God bless you all.

Somina Wokoma,
Convener, Ijaw Wari Worldwide.

Comrade Solomon Lenu,
Convener, Ogoni Development Drive (ODD),

Pureh Kalango,
Convener, RG 23 Movement.

Comrade Gift Baridasi,
Convener, Rivers Projects.

Tamunotonye Felix Owubokiri,
Convener, Partners-In-Progress
Rivers State

Ibinabo Fred Horsfall, DG, Takeover Rivers Initiative

Chizy Enyi Esq,
President General,
Initiative for Transparent Strategy and Good Leadership.