The Watchdog for Progressive Ijaw (WPI) has accused the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of attempting to create a crisis in the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC).

WPI reacted after Fubara received Dr. Theophilus Alaye in the Government House on December 11 and described him as the President of the IYC. WPI expressed shock and disbelief that Fubara recently recognised Alaye as the President of the council, describing it as the height of indiscretion.

The Ijaw group, in a statement signed yesterday by its Coordinator, Lambert Olambo, queried Fubara’s decision to receive Theophilus in Rivers State Government House, addressing him as the IYC President.

Olambo said by such a singular act, Fubara had betrayed the confidence reposed in him as a leader expected to galvanise and unite the youths in the IYC. Describing the governor’s action as a betrayal of his office, Olambo queried the leadership style of Fubara, saying that his recent actions had shown him as the aggressor in the ongoing political crisis in the state.

He said that Fubara was supposed to have conducted due diligence and be abreast of the issues in IYC before taking any decision.

Olambo stressed that Fubara acted on hearsay, blackmails and gossip, conjuring premonition instead of on credible information expected of someone occupying such an exalted office.

He said there was no doubt that Jonathan Lokpobiri remained the authentic and only President of the IYC and that any other person parading himself in a similar capacity was an impostor.

He added that Lokpobiri was properly elected in a constitutionally valid congress and had been recognised by all the structures in IYC and stakeholders of the Ijaw nation as the incumbent President of IYC.