Some elders in Rivers have strongly opposed the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers, arguing that the decision was made hastily and is not a viable solution to restore normalcy.
In a national broadcast, President Tinubu announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the state lawmakers due to their failure to resolve political differences.
The President also cited the destruction of pipelines by suspected militants as a contributing factor to the declaration.
However, High Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, a chieftain of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), disagreed with the president’s action on the emergency rule.
He stated that all avenues for mediation should have been exhausted before resorting to emergency rule.
“President Tinubu’s invocation of Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution at this time is inappropriate.
“The president claims to have declared a state of emergency to restore peace, but the real question is: why is the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, the key figure in the crisis, not suspended,” he asked.
Sara-Igbe said that it was unconstitutional to suspend or remove elected officials from office.
“Unlike in Sokoto, Borno, and other northern states, there is no war or loss of lives in Rivers that warrants the declaration of emergency rule in a peaceful state.’’
He, however, accused the President of not being sincere with the people of Rivers and had taken sides in the crisis through his actions and comments.
Ann-Kio Briggs, a prominent environmental and human rights activist, also decried Tinubu’s justification for the emergency declaration, particularly his claim that Fubara failed to brief him or condemn the pipeline explosions.
She stated that Fubara had, on multiple occasions, informed the president of developments in the state.
“On March 11, PANDEF met with the president to brief him and seek his intervention; the group had also made efforts to mediate peace between Fubara and Wike.
“So, for President Tinubu to give the impression that no efforts were made to resolve the crises is misleading.
Briggs said that the president’s reference to pipeline attacks as a basis for the state emergency was not convincing since pipelines had been vandalised for decades in Niger Delta without such drastic measures being taken.
She acknowledged that while the President had the power to declare a state of emergency, he did not have the constitutional authority to suspend an elected governor.
“This decision is hasty, rash, and premeditated, posing a grave threat to the people of the state; it is a targeted plot against Gov. Fubara, it is unacceptable,” she said.
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She also referenced Wike’s past remarks on national television, where he allegedly claimed to have the capacity to sabotage pipelines, and questioned why the minister was not suspended.
“Why wasn’t the minister suspended, considering he is a major player in the crises and the one the 27 lawmakers take instructions from,” Briggs asked.
On his part, Tonye Cole, the All Progressives Congress candidate in the 2023 Rivers governorship election, blamed all political actors for the state of affairs in Rivers.
He described the emergency rule as a dark chapter in Rivers politics and an indictment on all involved.
According to him, the President intervened only after political leaders failed to resolve their differences amicably.
“Today is a dark day in Rivers politics; the President had no choice but to step in to address the situation.
“I believe the president made some attempts to resolve the issues, but he did not push hard enough to bring the matter to a peaceful conclusion,” Cole remarked.
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