Jake Epelle, founder of the Albinism Foundation, has raised concerns over President Bola Tinubu’s motives behind declaring a state of emergency and appointing a sole administrator in Rivers State.
On March 18, President Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state lawmakers for an initial six-month period, citing an attack on an oil pipeline and ongoing political turmoil stemming from a feud between Fubara and Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister. The president appointed retired Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator to oversee the state.
Since taking office, Ibas has dissolved several boards and commissions, and recently reconstituted some, along with appointing sole administrators for the 23 local government areas. These actions have drawn sharp criticism from various quarters.
In an interview on Arise TV, Epelle suggested that the administration’s actions resemble a removal rather than a suspension of Fubara. “Anyone in a responsible leadership position should honor their word. What’s happening now looks more like a removal than a suspension. They should be bold enough to admit they don’t want the democratic systems and values that Rivers State embodies,” he stated.
Epelle further warned that such actions could escalate tensions, stating, “This is how genocide starts. The National Security Adviser needs to be vigilant. It seems they have deceived us into believing this is a suspension when it’s actually a removal.”
He criticized Ibas’ role as illegal, asserting that the administrator was only meant to implement regulations and not make appointments. “I will not mince words; his appointment is illegal. They are pushing us to the limit. Rivers people are resilient and peaceful, but this entire situation is becoming laughable and unconstitutional,” Epelle remarked.
Other prominent Nigerians, including former Rivers Governor Ada George and human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, have echoed Epelle’s sentiments, condemning the emergency rule as unconstitutional. George accused the FCT minister of orchestrating the emergency due to Fubara’s refusal to comply with his demands.
Effiong argued that the circumstances in Rivers State did not justify emergency rule and asserted that the president lacks the authority to remove elected officials. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also denounced the emergency measures, moving its Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu in protest.
In response to the criticism, Wike dismissed George’s claims, suggesting he was reacting like a child upset over lost toys, and attributed the emergency rule to what he termed Fubara’s “lawlessness.”
The political crisis in Rivers State has escalated since late 2023, resulting in violence and unrest. Following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated local elections and reinstated Wike loyalists in the state assembly, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency, suspending Fubara and appointing Ibas as sole administrator.
