There was palpable tension in Rivers as residents of the Ijaw community of Abalama, mostly women stormed major roads in protest ahead of former Governor Nyesom Wike’s planned visit for a thanksgiving service.
It was gathered that Wike, the incumbent minister of the Federal Capital Territory, will be attending a grand reception and thanksgiving service organised by a group, River’s Ijaw Peoples Congress (RIPCO) slated to hold today, Saturday, March 15, 2025.
The move comes in the wake of the ongoing political battle between the Minister Wike and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara. Wike, who had an uninterrupted eight-year tenure as governor, is accused of attempting to destabilise Fubara’s administration.
His recent comments labeling the Ijaw ethnic group as the “minorities of the minorities in the Niger Delta” sparked widespread outrage within the Ijaw nation, further fueling the rift between him and the governor’s supporters.
According reports, some individuals including the the Amayanabo of Abalama, King Dr. A. B. Big Tom Tom JP, has called for the cancellation of the event, saying it could provoke violent reactions given the deep-seated grievances his statements have generated
The Abalama king in a letter sighted by Intel Region calling for the cancelation of the event and addressed to the State Commissioner of Police, expressed shock upon learning about the event through Facebook, despite being the paramount ruler of Abalama.
He recalled that in February 2025, Dr. D. A. Kelly, a known ally of Wike, had visited him with a letter dated January 17, 2025, notifying him of a personal thanksgiving service. However, he later discovered that the event was something entirely different.
Expressing his concerns, the king wrote:
“I, HRH King Dr. A. B. Big Tom Tom JP, Amayanabo VIII of Abalama, on behalf of the council of chiefs and the people of Abalama, wish to inform you of the present state of affairs in my community.
“To my greatest surprise, I became aware of an upcoming event in my own community through Facebook on March 12, 2025. As the paramount head and custodian of Abalama, I consider this a slap in the face.
“Without my knowledge or consent, information about the event has been widely circulated on social media, radio, and belevision. In February 2025, I received a courtesy visit from Dr. D. A. Kelly’s personal assistant and another individual, whe delivered a letter dated January 17, 2025, titled ‘Notification of My Upcoming Thanksgiving Service.
“The letter indicated that the event was for Dr. Kelly’s personal thanksgiving in recognition of his appointment by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“However, given the ongoing political tensions in the state, I contacted him via text after several unanswered calls, advising that the event be put on hold. The date was not yet fixed, and I was deeply concerned about the security of my people.”
However, on Saturday morning, residents of the community, mostly women, blocked major roads to prevent Wike from gaining access.
In various videos trending online, some protesters were seen unclad, while others were stopping any official vehicles from entering the community.
In one of the videos, a group of people was seen beating a man. When a police officer tried to rescue him, they attacked the officer, forcing him to retreat and leave the scene.
Meanwhile, a video posted by @Shaibu_AO on X claimed that the FCT minister is already on his way to Abalama.
The post said; “BREAKING: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike en route Abalama community for his thanksgiving service.”
