Rivers Crisis Deepens: Youth Council Calls Out Minister Lokpobiri For Alleged Treachery

The Secretary-General of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Maobuye Nangi Obu, has strongly criticized the council’s president, Jonathan Lokpobiri, over comments allegedly blaming the Ijaw people for the move to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Obu accused Lokpobiri of siding with political forces rather than defending the interests of his own people. He described Lokpobiri’s remarks as both hypocritical and a betrayal of the Ijaw nation. Speaking during a recent stakeholders’ forum organized by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) in Port Harcourt, Obu expressed his deep dissatisfaction.

According to Obu, Lokpobiri’s comments were baseless and revealed a troubling shift in loyalty, suggesting that the IYC president no longer represents the aspirations of the Ijaw people.

“Lokpobiri must clarify his stance on the Rivers State political crisis,” Obu declared, alleging that the IYC president had sacrificed the Ijaw cause for personal political and financial gains.

He also blasted Lokpobiri for failing to denounce alleged provocative and anti-Ijaw remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing Wike of being the driving force behind the crisis aimed at undermining Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Obu maintained that prominent Ijaw leaders, along with the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), had pursued peaceful solutions before the emergency declaration, but their efforts were dismissed by Wike.

He further alleged that Lokpobiri’s silence stemmed from political interests, especially relating to his brother’s rumored ambition to contest the Bayelsa governorship — a bid allegedly backed by Wike.

“At a time when bold leadership was needed, Lokpobiri chose instead to spew falsehoods and distort the truth,” Obu said, calling the president’s remarks disgraceful and damaging to the Ijaw cause.

Obu concluded by warning that Lokpobiri’s actions are undermining the IYC’s strength and relevance, precisely when strong and unified advocacy is most needed.