Prominent leaders and stakeholders across the South-South region have criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as unconstitutional, politically motivated, and an attempt to undermine Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Many believe the move was orchestrated to favor the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, at the expense of the state’s stability.
Former Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, Uwemedimo Nwoko, SAN, denounced the declaration, arguing that the conditions required for such a move under the Nigerian Constitution had not been met. According to him, the decision was part of a larger plot to wrest control of Rivers State.
“The president’s action is not well thought out. The situation in Rivers State has not met any of the conditions prescribed by the constitution for the declaration of a state of emergency. It falls short of it,” Nwoko stated.
“So the president’s action is ill-advised and not based on constitutional provisions. For me, it is part of a script to take over the control of Rivers State, which has been carefully orchestrated and is now unfolding stage by stage.”
Similarly, former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Eric Omare, condemned Tinubu’s intervention, arguing that it had only escalated the crisis by emboldening Wike.
“President Tinubu took a wrong decision; I strongly condemn his one-sided action. Removing Governor Fubara won’t solve the problem,” Omare said.
“The President’s intervention in the Rivers crisis has been one-sided. His actions and body language have encouraged Wike to fuel the crisis up to this point. If Governor Fubara is blamed for not doing enough to resolve the situation, then what has the president done to address Wike’s unnecessary outbursts, which have been the root cause of the tension over the past week?”
Omare further argued that if Tinubu truly wanted to act impartially, he should have called Wike to order or even dismissed him from his ministerial position to demonstrate fairness in handling the conflict.
Meanwhile, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the apex socio-political body for the South-South region, expressed deep concern over the president’s decision. In a statement issued by its National Spokesman, Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini, PANDEF said it was closely monitoring the situation and would soon issue an official position.
“PANDEF is seriously alarmed by the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State over a crisis that was entirely avoidable. We are, therefore, studying the situation and will soon make our stance known,” the statement read.
Former National Spokesman of the Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Amaebi Clarkson, also viewed the emergency declaration as politically motivated and linked it to preparations for the 2027 elections.
“I am sure the governor would challenge the constitutionality or legality of the state of emergency. But politically, the emergency is in bad faith and obviously, the execution of a well-oiled script hatched in furtherance of the 2027 election,” Clarkson remarked.
He further accused the president of failing to act as a leader for all Nigerians, instead choosing to support Wike’s interests.
“The president did not act like a leader of the entire nation; he took sides with his minister to punish the governor while leaving his appointee untouched. This was a well-planned move by Wike,” he added.
Clarkson also pointed to a series of events leading up to the declaration, including Wike’s visit to Ijaw land, which he claimed was intended to provoke a reaction, and subsequent incidents of explosions in oil facilities, which were later cited as justification for the emergency measures.
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide also condemned the president’s decision, labeling it an act of oppression and intimidation targeted at the Ijaw people.
“We condemn the state of emergency declared on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu. We have states that have been grappling with insurgency, where Boko Haram and herdsmen have wreaked havoc, yet no emergency was declared. But because this involves the Ijaw people, it has now become an issue,” IYC Spokesman Amb. Binebai Princewill said.
He further criticized the president for failing to address Wike’s role in escalating the crisis while taking drastic action against Fubara.
However, not all voices were entirely opposed to the state of emergency. APC chieftain and elder statesman, Hon. Charles Idahosa, suggested that the declaration could serve as an opportunity for reconciliation among the warring factions.
“Fubara did not tread softly at all. Politically ambitious individuals in Rivers took advantage of his stance and misled him. Now that the president has declared a state of emergency, this is the time for all parties—Fubara, the legislators, and Wike—to come together and find common ground,” Idahosa said.
He urged the key stakeholders to use this period to seek resolution, emphasizing that failure to do so could make it increasingly difficult for the presidency to maintain its involvement in the matter.
As the fallout from Tinubu’s decision continues to unfold, political analysts warn that the situation in Rivers State could have far-reaching consequences, not just for the state’s governance but also for the broader political landscape heading into the 2027 elections.
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