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By: News Peddlers
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| Bola Tinubu, Nyesom Wike and Sim Fubara |
Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, has credited the president’s decisive declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State with preventing the region from descending into chaos and destruction.
The move came amid a fierce power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and loyalists of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, whose supporters were described as “combatants refusing to allow reason to prevail.”
In an op-ed shared on his social media page, Onanuga detailed how the political crisis between Governor Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, aligned with Wike, had already sparked violence. He warned that the situation could have escalated further, endangering lives and crippling Nigeria’s economy.
“Imagine a Rivers State where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu hesitated to declare a state of emergency. The political standoff between the State Assembly and Governor Siminalayi Fubara could have continued and degenerated into violence,” Onanuga stated.
He painted a grim picture of what might have unfolded: impeachment threats leading to attacks on lawmakers by the governor’s supporters, militants targeting critical oil infrastructure, and sensational media coverage inflaming tensions. The result, he argued, would have been paralyzed governance, shuttered schools and hospitals, and fleeing investors, with devastating human and economic consequences.
Onanuga praised President Tinubu for acting swiftly to declare a state of emergency, which included suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers for six months. He emphasized that the decision was made in the best interest of Rivers State residents, who had become collateral damage in the political feud.
“Rivers was in a grave situation, as the combatants refused to allow reason to prevail. The President took action in the best interest of the people of the state, who had become victims of the warring politicians—the people they elected to serve them. President Tinubu needed to act. He chose prevention over cure,” Onanuga explained.
He highlighted the positive outcomes of Tinubu’s intervention, noting that political tensions have eased, sensational headlines have subsided, and stakeholders are now working toward lasting peace under the guidance of a newly appointed administrator.
Onanuga addressed critics who questioned the necessity of the state of emergency, arguing that waiting for a full breakdown of law and order would have been disastrous.
“Critics who argue the crisis ‘did not yet warrant’ emergency rule ignore a stark truth: waiting for the breakdown of law and order to escalate into anarchy before acting is like withholding firefighters until a house burns to ashes,” he said.
Last Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all elected officials. This move has sparked mixed reactions, with some Nigerians questioning the legality of suspending elected state officials.
Despite the controversy, the National Assembly ratified the state of emergency through a voice vote. However, this method has drawn criticism, with many arguing that such a significant decision required a more transparent and rigorous process, such as a recorded two-thirds majority vote.