Amid growing political tension in Rivers State, stakeholders have called on President Bola Tinubu to step in and safeguard democracy in the oil-rich Niger Delta state.
Rivers State has once again attracted national attention following moves by the State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.
In response, the governor sought judicial intervention, which resulted in a court order temporarily halting the impeachment process for seven days.
However, the lawmakers have rejected the court’s action, arguing that the judiciary lacks the authority to interfere in the legislature’s constitutional powers.
Reacting to the development, former Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Itse Sagay, called on President Tinubu to urgently intervene, warning that the actions of the Rivers State House of Assembly could destabilise the state.
He said, “I think the way out is to find a way to stop the state House of Assembly from misbehaving. They’ve been destabilising that state since 2023. This is the third time they’re trying to impeach the governor.
“The Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, is also impeaching the deputy governor. In other words, he wants to become the governor. So, it’s personal ambition that’s making him overturn the whole of the state and create so much confusion and instability. This is the ugly Nigerian we’re seeing. As you saw the ugly American in that novel, he’s the ugly Nigerian.
“He’s the ugliest side of being a Nigerian that’s showing now. He’s ready to overturn the whole state into confusion and destabilise the whole country because he wants to be governor. An unelected governor. I think the only way is to find a way to simply stop that fellow so that lawful governance can go on.”
Sagay also spoke on the role of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, urging President Tinubu to rein him in.
He said, “The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is a big problem to this country. Other governors have ruled Rivers State. Amaechi was there for eight years. Before him, Peter Odili was there for eight years. Everybody did his eight years and left. But Wike won’t let Rivers State rest. He’s a federal minister, he’s operating there with his fire and brimstone policy. At the same time, he’s transferring this heat because he wants to also control Rivers State, control federal territory. Everywhere he goes, he’s breathing flames to consume everybody. I don’t see how Wike can be more powerful than the governor of the state. I think that President Bola Tinubu should call him to order. Intervene and let peace be restored to Rivers State.”
Commenting on Wike’s tours of local government areas, Sagay added, “You’re not contesting the election there anymore. Why are you campaigning? What he’s doing is unprecedented. When Amaechi left the place for him, Amaechi didn’t go there haunting everybody. The whole thing is just unacceptable. And I totally agree that the president has to stop him because turbulence in one state can spill over.”
Also speaking, the National Chairman of Action Alliance, Chief Kenneth Udeze, described the crisis as typical of election periods but stressed the need for presidential intervention to protect democracy.
He said, “Its election year and you’ll continue to see such things in Rivers State. The Rivers State House of Assembly should respect the court for the seven days and then go to court to explain why the governor and his deputy should be impeached. The House of Assembly must respect the rule of law. The president has intervened in this matter before, he can intervene again. Wike should understand that somebody left that office for him to come in. He shouldn’t make nonsense of the office.”
On his part, the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Sani Yabagi, described the Rivers crisis as largely political, linking it to the strategic importance of the state in presidential elections.
He said, “I’m sure you’re also aware that hardly any president wins the election without winning Rivers and Kano states, very important. So, you can see that the two states are on the boil now. The reasons are not far-fetched. Because if you look at Rivers, the governor has the authority of the office. But does he have the power? I’m talking about grassroots support to deliver Mr. President. Regardless of how you want to look at it, I believe Wike has a stronger hold on the grassroots.
“The same thing in Kano, Kwankwaso, by and large has a stronger hold on the grassroots. Although the governor may have the authority of being the governor today. They may say they’ve now become Mr. Boys. Meaning that, they can now hold on their own. But when you look at the historical antecedents, you’ll find that both Wike and Kwankwaso, as far as votes are concerned, have been delivering.
“And Mr. President, I don’t know what calculations he may make, but I don’t think he would be ready to sacrifice the support of Wike as far as Rivers State is concerned. That’s not to say that the president won’t work towards having the two of them on his side.
“Meaning that he has to find a way by which peace is going to reign. And for Kano, well, Kano is not yet that bad. So it’s about politics, nothing more than politics because 2027 is already by the corner, the stakes are high. I think Mr. President has intervened once, or severally, before Fubara could get to remain the governor. But what I’m saying is that, whatever it is, the president cannot afford to lose Wike’s support in Rivers. He would rather have the two of them settled at peace, than to lose the state.
“And then, on the legal aspect of it, the state Assembly, as far as the constitution is concerned, they’re the ones given the power to impeach the governor for gross misconduct. Gross misconduct, I don’t know how they’re going to interpret it. And it’s up to them to interpret gross misconduct, because it’s not defined in the constitution. So, they can bring out any charges, trumped-up charges, and constitutional infractions against Fubara. I’m not a lawyer, but I don’t think any court of law has the right to intervene, or to stop the state Assembly from exercising their constitutional power.
“The person who can bring about that political solution is still Mr. President, who is in fact the highest beneficiary of whatever may happen in terms of having peace. All I know is that what Tinubu is interested in is winning. He’s not interested in anybody.”
Meanwhile, former Rivers State governorship aspirant, Fafaa Dan-Princewill, said the crisis is closely tied to the 2027 presidential election and called for urgent presidential intervention.
He said, “The crisis we have in Rivers State is because the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, couldn’t get his way and this has stalled governance in the state. Tinubu should intervene urgently.”
