ABUJA, Nigeria — Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, don show him support for President Bola Tinubu declaration of state of emergency for Rivers State. On March 18, President Tinubu put Rivers State under emergency rule, suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, him deputy, and all state assembly members due to the long-standing political crisis wey surround the state.
The president talk say na the political wahala between Mr. Wike and Governor Fubara cause the emergency. To manage the state, he appoint Ibok-Ete Ibas, wey be retired chief of naval staff, as sole administrator for Rivers.
In interview wey he grant journalists for Abuja on Friday, Wike talk say Fubara suppose give Tinubu thanks for saving him from outright removal. “I wanted the outright removal of the governor. But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy,” Wike disclose to reporters.
The political confusion wey start for Rivers State late 2023 don lead to the Supreme Court ruling wey cancel last year local election for the state, stop all federal allocations, restore Wike allies to rightful position in the state assembly, and order Fubara to present the 2025 budget to new assembly led by Martin Amaewhule.
Following the Supreme Court victory, Rivers lawmakers don give Fubara 48 hours ultimatum to present the 2025 budget. Fubara don begin to implement some parts of the court judgment, including asking local government chairpersons to vacate office. He announce for statewide broadcast say he go fulfill other parts of the judgment once he collect the certified true copy.
Even with the court ruling, the lawmakers don serve impeachment notice to Fubara over various allegations and for not presenting the budget on time. Reacting to the impeachment call, Wike say he no go stop the lawmakers from impeaching Fubara.
Wike strongly say, “The governor was gone. He was gone, yes. So when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him.” This statement go with comments from Lateef Fagbemi, the Minister of Justice, wey also say emergency rule save Fubara from impeachment. Wike go further suggest say Fubara suppose dey thankful for this opportunity.
“Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, can we wash your feet for saving us,” Wike add as he call for Fubara to show sincerity if he want forgiveness.
Despite Wike’s belief say emergency rule dey for the state’s best interest, many Nigerians and organizations don raise concerns. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemn Ibas’ actions, say he dey govern with impunity and dey ignore court ruling and judicial pronouncements.
In reaction to emergency rule, the NBA don shift their 2025 conference wey suppose hold for Port Harcourt to Enugu. The chairpersons from all eight branches of NBA in Rivers blame the move on Ibas’ governance, wey don dismantle democratic institutions and make new appointments without National Assembly approval.
This relocation has also caused huge economic loss to Rivers State, especially in hospitality sector. The chairpersons lament say the conference wey fit gather 30,000 lawyers don suffer serious impacts due to the state of emergency, leaving businesses in Rivers in jeopardy.
