Former Oyo State governor and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, has expressed support for the emergency rule declared in Rivers State, stating that the decision has brought relative peace to the state.
Speaking to journalists at his private residence on Ondo Street, Bodija, Ibadan, after the Eid-el-Fitri prayer on Tuesday, Ladoja described President Bola Tinubu’s decision as a wise move aimed at dousing tension and restoring normalcy amid the political crisis.
President Tinubu had declared emergency rule in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, following a prolonged political conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, which is reportedly loyal to ex-governor Nyesom Wike. As part of the declaration, the governor and lawmakers were suspended for six months, and a sole administrator was appointed to oversee the state’s affairs.
The decision has sparked widespread controversy, with critics alleging that the president’s action breached constitutional provisions. Despite this, Senate leader and other political figures have praised the move as necessary to maintain peace.
Ladoja urged both Fubara and Wike to put their differences aside and work together in the best interest of the state, emphasizing the importance of collaboration if their intentions are truly to serve the people of Rivers State.
He also noted that some stakeholders, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, have approached the Supreme Court to challenge the decision. “The judgment will be faster, and whatever the court says will bind both parties,” Ladoja added.
As reactions continue to trail the president’s decision, stakeholders and observers await the outcome of the ongoing legal battle and its potential impact on the state’s political landscape.
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