State of emergency in Rivers: Tinubu openly blames Fubara, keeps mum on Wike’s role

In a recent nationwide broadcast, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu placed the blame for the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State squarely on Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

While condemning Fubara’s actions as undemocratic, Tinubu made no mention of the role played by his ally, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in the deepening tensions within the state.

According to the president, the crisis has effectively brought governance in Rivers State to a standstill, necessitating his declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of elected officials.

“With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy,” he said in his address on Tuesday.

He blamed Governor Fubara for demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly, calling the action unjustifiable. He also stated that interventions by prominent figures had failed to resolve the crisis.

Tinubu said, “Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State, for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same.

“I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis.

“I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thought, and patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.”

Tinubu further accused Governor Fubara of unconstitutional acts and disregard for the rule of law:

“On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it, pronounced in very clear terms,” he said.

He also noted that the Supreme Court had emphasised the absence of a functional government in Rivers State.

He said, “A government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case, the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is, there is no government in Rivers State.”

Before declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, Tinubu accused Fubara of failing to disown militants who had vowed to destroy pipelines in the state.

“Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now not disowned them. Apart from that, both the House and the governor have not been able to work together. Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state,” he said.

Throughout the speech, Tinubu never once mentioned Nyesom Wike, who has been labelled as the chief instigator of the crisis in Rivers State.

Wike recently called for Fubara’s impeachment, stating that “heavens will not fall” if the governor is removed.

Twenty-seven lawmakers in the state have been loyal to the FCT Minister, who has publicly expressed interest in the ongoing crisis.

Wike was recently quoted as taunting Fubara, stating that the governor was “losing two-nil with more to come.”

It remains unclear whether “more to come” included Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency.

 

(SaharaReporters)