A former parliamentarian of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Western Zone and ex-ZECO Secretary, Comrade Icon-James Tam, has weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding IYC President, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, defending him against impeachment calls over remarks made concerning the political crisis in Rivers State.
Tam, in a statement made available to journalists, described the media attacks and calls for Lokpobiri’s removal as “misconstrued and unwarranted,” insisting the President’s comments were rooted in wisdom and strategic caution rather than disrespect or betrayal of the Ijaw cause.
Referencing a widely circulated video clip, Tam noted that Lokpobiri merely criticized the poor handling of the Rivers crisis by unnamed individuals, stating, “some persons didn’t manage the crisis properly, openly calling for war instead of engaging in strategic planning… Emotions don’t win wars; strategic planning does.”
“These remarks,” Tam argued, “have unfortunately been taken out of context by those now calling for his impeachment.” He emphasized that Lokpobiri’s intention was never to ridicule the Ijaw nation but to highlight the need for diplomacy and maturity in conflict resolution.
Tam also credited Lokpobiri with playing a crucial role in preventing the initial impeachment attempt against Governor Siminalayi Fubara by the now-suspended state Assembly, stating that it is “disheartening” to see those sacrifices met with backlash instead of appreciation.
While expressing strong disapproval of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s role in the Rivers political crisis and his alleged verbal attacks on the Ijaw people, Tam urged for unity among Ijaw stakeholders. “This moment calls for unity, not division,” he said, stressing the importance of rallying support for Governor Fubara’s administration.
Although Tam admitted he would have preferred that Lokpobiri’s comments were made in-house, he maintained that the situation does not justify impeachment. Instead, he called on Ijaw sons and daughters to stand behind the IYC President in the interest of peace, reconciliation, and the advancement of the Ijaw nation.
