Six days after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, the move continues to spark intense debate and backlash, with many condemning the action as an assault on democracy and an unconstitutional power grab.
While some blame President Tinubu for allegedly orchestrating the crisis, others claim lawmakers compromised, and some point fingers at Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, for allegedly manipulating events to his advantage.
A socio-political critic and lawyer, Mr. Frank Tietie, the Executive Director of Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), criticized Sen. Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, and Sheriff Oborevwori, Governor of Delta State, for their “seemingly passive stance” in taking the Rivers State emergency rule to the Supreme Court.
Tietie took to his official X handle on Sunday, March 23, to caution that they should be mindful that they, too, could fall victim of suspension in the future.
He said: “All it takes is for one disgruntled group or a powerful individual to create enough mayhem in their states, including hurting oil pipelines and the President could seize control of their oil-rich states through a proclamation of a state of emergency.
“It is time to move beyond the widespread condemnation of the President’s actions and allow the Supreme Court to make a decision, just as it did regarding the issues surrounding the redesign of the Naira.”
Meanwhile, while the Abuja-based lawyer is advising them to sue, and governors under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are threatening to sue, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has walked its talk by filing a lawsuit against President Tinubu.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/558/2025 was filed on Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, by the Rivers State chapter of SERAP’s Volunteers’ Lawyers Network (SVLN), against the president, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and the Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
The suit was filed by representatives Yirabari Israel Nulog, Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal, and Gracious Eyoh-Sifumbukho.
Persecondnews had reported that President Tinubu, in a bid to put an end to the power tussle between the state’s former Gov. Nyesom Wike and his successor, Sim Fubara, declared a state of emergency in the state on March 18.
The prolonged power struggle led to nearly two years of political instability in the state, culminating in a legislature-Executive deadlock.
Apart from declaring a state of emergency, the President also suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months.
Retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas was appointed as the sole administrator; he arrived in Rivers State on March 20, and was sworn in by President Tinubu on March 19.
Ibas served as the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021, during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari.
Author
Leave a comment