Youths in Rivers State have tendered a unanimous apology to Governor Siminialyi Fubara and former Governor Peter Odili, following a controversy sparked by comments made by the State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Nwisabari Bani.

The apology comes after Nwisabari Bani made comments on the presentation of the 2025 budget to the State House of Assembly, which were deemed malicious and provocative by the youths.

In a statement released after an emergency meeting, the youths, who are executives of the NYCN, dissociated themselves from their chairman’s comments and apologised to Fubara and Odili.

The youths said that they would always respect institutions and leaders and that their chairman’s comments did not reflect their values. By apologising, the youths aim to mend relationships and promote unity in the state.

The statement was signed by Adokiye Aderika, Deputy Chairman; Amb. Prince Richard Egbelekro, Secretary General; and others, including Brown Loretta, Organising Secretary, Rivers South/East, and others.

The statement noted that the comments against the governor and Dr Odili were not the product of a collective decision by the leadership of the youth body in the state, alleging that Bani is bent on derailing leadership in the state.

The statement read: “The statement issued by Nwisabari and his cohorts at a press conference in Port Harcourt, sponsored by some detractors of the Governor, is malicious and highly provocative.

“We vehemently condemn his disrespectful and uncomplimentary remarks against the Governor, and an elder statesman and former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili.

“The statement was not a product of a collective decision by members of the State Executives of the National Youth Council of Nigeria but a malicious opinion of Comr. Nwisabari and his paymasters, who are hell-bent on derailing governance in Rivers State, creating instability, and truncating constitutional democracy in the state.

“His statement does not reflect the core values of moral rectitude, honour, reverence, humility, obedience, and respect for elders and constituted authorities, which the National Youth Council of Nigeria upholds.”

The statement noted that Bani has been in an unhealthy alliance with those interested in distracting the governor of the state, adding that Governor Fubara acted within the ambit of the law in the budget presentation.

It read: “We have not mandated him to be criticising the Governor of Rivers State and disrespecting elders of the State. At the appropriate time, we shall take necessary disciplinary action against him in line with the constitution of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.

“We strongly believe that Governor Fubara acted in accordance with the relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended in his presentation of the 2025 Budget before the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo. We are aware that the issue of the authentic Rivers State House of Assembly, following the defection of 27 lawmakers, is yet to be decided by the Supreme Court, which is the final court.

“Rivers State cannot be at a standstill but has to move on with the 2025 Budget, pending the Supreme Court’s decision on the authentic Rivers State House of Assembly.

“We wish to warn Comr. Nwisabari and his cohorts to stop using the State Chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria as a platform to attack the Rivers State Governor, thereby portraying the organization in a bad light. The NYCN is non-partisan and should not be dragged into the current political happenings in Rivers State.”