Senator Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa West has reaffirmed that the Ijaw Nation is not in conflict with President Bola Tinubu or the Federal Government, amid ongoing political tensions in Rivers State.
The former Bayelsa governor made the statement following a visit to the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, in Port Harcourt on Friday. In a post on his official Facebook page, Dickson said their meeting centered on the “extreme political developments” in the state over recent weeks.
He praised Governor Fubara for his calmness and peaceful conduct in the face of what he described as “unprecedented turbulence” in the state’s political landscape.
While acknowledging the outward peace in Rivers, Dickson warned it could be a fragile calm. “It may very well be the peace of a graveyard, which any little trigger can disrupt,” he said.
The senator appealed to youths across the Ijaw Nation and the wider Niger Delta to remain peaceful and avoid any form of provocation or violence, especially targeting vital oil and gas infrastructure. He cautioned that such actions would only worsen environmental degradation in the region.
Dickson also called on President Tinubu to intervene and encourage dialogue between key stakeholders—particularly Governor Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike—to find common ground and resolve the crisis.
“I want to emphasize that the Ijaw Nation is not at war with the President or the APC-led Federal Government,” he said. “We continue to advocate for a restructured, truly federal Nigeria with power devolution, environmental justice, and inclusive development.”
He urged leaders from the Niger Delta at both state and national levels to actively participate in peace efforts and support a return to stability and democratic governance in Rivers State.