President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is a misguided intervention that does little to address the root causes of the crisis plaguing the state. Rather than resolving the political turmoil, the President’s action sets a dangerous precedent for executive overreach and deepens Nigeria’s democratic challenges.
The crisis in Rivers did not erupt overnight; it is the result of a protracted power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Their tussle has effectively paralyzed governance in the state, turning Rivers into a political battleground rather than a place of development and progress. However, instead of facilitating dialogue or employing constitutional mechanisms to de-escalate tensions, Tinubu has chosen the blunt instrument of emergency rule, an approach that history has shown to be counterproductive.
First, suspending a duly elected governor, his deputy, and the entire House of Assembly is an affront to democracy. These officials were chosen by the people of Rivers State through a legitimate electoral process. If misgovernance or constitutional breaches were the issue, there are legal avenues for redress, including the judiciary and legislative oversight. The President’s action, therefore, amounts to an outright subversion of the will of the people.
Second, the appointment of a sole administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, further compounds the problem. The notion that one individual, handpicked by the President, can effectively govern a state of over six million people without democratic legitimacy is deeply flawed. History has demonstrated that such arrangements breed unaccountability and foster corruption. With no elected representatives to check the administrator’s decisions, Rivers State risks slipping into a period of governance by decree, where policies are dictated from Abuja rather than shaped by the needs of the people.
More importantly, emergency rule has never successfully resolved Nigeria’s political crises. When President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in Plateau and Ekiti states in the early 2000s, the outcome was more instability and deeper political distrust. The same pattern emerged when President Goodluck Jonathan imposed emergency rule in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states in 2013 to counter Boko Haram’s insurgency. In all cases, the fundamental issues fueling the crises remained unresolved, and the affected states eventually reverted to their previous conditions once emergency rule ended.
In Rivers, the core problem is a political rivalry that has been allowed to fester unchecked. Addressing this requires constructive engagement, institutional reforms, and perhaps a neutral mediation process—not the sledgehammer approach of emergency rule. By failing to hold Wike accountable for his role in the crisis and instead punishing an entire state, Tinubu’s administration is sending a clear message: political impunity is tolerated as long as one has the right connections in Abuja.
A genuine solution would involve fostering dialogue between the warring factions, reinforcing democratic institutions, and ensuring that elected officials are held accountable through constitutional means. The judiciary remains the appropriate venue to adjudicate disputes between state actors, not an emergency proclamation that dissolves elected governance structures. Furthermore, if governance has stalled in Rivers, the blame should be placed on both Fubara and Wike for prioritizing political battles over public service. A more balanced intervention would have urged both men to focus on governance while letting legal institutions handle any misconduct claims.
Ultimately, the state of emergency in Rivers is an ill-advised move that exacerbates Nigeria’s governance challenges rather than solving them. It is a dangerous shortcut that undermines democratic principles, deepens political instability, and sets a precedent for future arbitrary interventions. If Tinubu truly wishes to restore peace and order in Rivers, he must rescind this decision, encourage lawful dispute resolution, and uphold the democratic process. Anything short of that is a disservice to the people of Rivers and a stain on Nigeria’s democracy.
