The Presidency has justified President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, stating that the move was necessary to prevent the state from descending into chaos.
In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy,
the Presidency accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of emulating the controversial tactics of former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, which led to the paralysis of governance in the state.
The political crisis in Rivers State, which erupted barely six months into Fubara’s administration, reached a boiling point on March 18, 2024, when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency.
The decision followed months of escalating tensions between Governor Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly, who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The Presidency painted a grim picture of what could have happened if the president had hesitated to act. Without intervention, the standoff could have spiraled into violence, with impeachment threats triggering attacks on lawmakers by the governor’s supporters, Onanuga explained.
He said militants in the creeks, allegedly primed by Fubara to sabotage oil infrastructure, could have crippled Nigeria’s oil production, reversing the gains made since 2023. Schools and hospitals might have shut down, investors would have fled, and the state would have been plunged into economic and social turmoil.
“Today, thanks to the president’s intervention, Rivers State can breathe again,” the statement read. “Political tensions have eased, sensational headlines have quieted, and stakeholders are now working toward lasting peace.”
The Presidency emphasized that President Tinubu acted within his constitutional powers under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows the president to declare a state of emergency in the event of a breakdown of law, order, and economic security. Intelligence reports had indicated that militants were preparing to target oil pipelines, threatening Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy.
The statement also addressed critics who argue that the state of emergency undermines democracy, describing their position as misguided. “The intervention is temporary, surgical, and aimed at restoring—not replacing—democratic institutions,” it clarified. The suspension of political actors for six months is not a power grab but a necessary reset to disarm warring factions and restore stability.
The newly appointed administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (Rtd.), has already begun engaging with traditional leaders and other stakeholders to chart a path toward lasting peace. The Presidency assured that the state of emergency would be lifted once stability is restored, allowing elected officials to resume their duties.
The statement concluded with a quote from 18th-century philosopher Edmund Burke: “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” It praised President Tinubu for choosing courage over complacency and prioritizing Nigeria’s interest over political expediency.
“Rivers and Nigeria are safer for it,” the statement declared. “President Tinubu deserves commendation, not condemnation, for his statesmanship.”
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