By John Audu
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is a calculated move to intimidate governors into supporting his potential 2027 re-election bid.
Speaking in an interview with DW Africa on Friday, Amaechi criticized Tinubu’s March 18 decision, which suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire state house of assembly for six months, appointing Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator.
Tinubu cited the ongoing political crisis and vandalism of oil facilities as justification for the emergency rule, a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from opposition parties, civil society organizations, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who deem it unconstitutional.
Amaechi asserted that the president’s action has instilled fear among governors, creating a perception that dissent could lead to their removal. “The president wants a power grab. They want to frighten governors who may not support them in 2027. So, there is a rumour everywhere that if you are not careful, the president will remove you,” Amaechi stated.
He also argued that Governor Fubara bears “no security responsibility” for the crisis in Rivers State, suggesting that the suspension is an unjust punishment. “If the president said it is because of insecurity, because they blew the pipeline, what about part of the country where there is insecurity? Is the president saying they should impose emergency rule on him too? They can’t because he is a democratically elected president. Nobody can impose an emergency rule on him because there is serious insecurity in the north-east, north-west — even in south-east and south-west,” Amaechi said.
“Rivers governor has no security responsibility; it rests squarely on the president. So why punish a man who did not commit an offence?” he questioned.
Amaechi called on Rivers State residents to “resist the president” through democratic protests.
