As the state of emergency in Rivers State stretches into its second week, Rivers youth leaders have thrown their support behind the Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, while urging political actors to desist from further legal battles and focus on restoring democratic governance.
The call for unity and stability came from a faction of the Rivers State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), shortly after they elected new executives in Port Harcourt, the state capital. The youth leaders insisted that the appointment of Ibas remains the only practical solution to the state’s ongoing political crisis. They warned that if stakeholders continue on a path of division and confrontation, the presidency may have no choice but to extend the six-month emergency rule.
Factional Chairman of NYCN Rivers State, Nwisabari Bani, speaking alongside the Chairman of the NYCN Electoral Committee Elective Congress, Lawrence Oyor, and the Speaker of the Rivers State Youth Parliament, Wisdom Bruce, emphasized the need for peace and stability. According to them, prolonging political litigations and confrontations will only worsen the situation, making it harder for the state to return to normalcy.
The crisis in Rivers State took a dramatic turn when President Bola Tinubu announced the suspension of elected officials, including the governor, as part of emergency measures to curb rising political tension. While the move was met with mixed reactions, some seeing it as necessary and others condemning it as excessive, the youths believe it is time to move forward.
They stressed that the focus should now be on reconciliation and constructive dialogue, rather than legal battles that could deepen the crisis. They called on political stakeholders to put the state’s interest above personal ambitions, warning that continued discord could have far-reaching consequences for governance and development in Rivers State.
For many residents, the state of emergency has brought uncertainty. While some appreciate the temporary measures to stabilize governance, others worry about the long-term implications, especially if the political crisis lingers. Businesses, civil servants, and ordinary citizens remain hopeful that a resolution will be reached soon so that normal government functions can resume without further disruptions.
The youth leaders further noted that Rivers State has always been a strategic economic hub in Nigeria, and prolonged instability could affect not just the state, but the nation at large. They appealed to aggrieved politicians to embrace dialogue, warning that failure to do so could push the presidency into extending emergency rule beyond the initial six-month period.
With Rivers State at a crossroads, political actors are now faced with a critical decision—whether to continue contesting the situation in court or to engage in peace talks that could lead to a quicker return to democratic governance. The youth leaders are clear on their stance: dialogue is the best path forward, and any further political infighting will only hurt the people of Rivers State.
As the weeks unfold, all eyes remain on the actions of political stakeholders. Whether they heed the call for peace or continue their legal tussles remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—the fate of Rivers State’s political future hangs in the balance.
