The Declaration Of State Of Emergency And Tyranny In Rivers State -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

The Merriam-Webster English dictionary defines tyranny as oppressive power especially one exerted by government. If we go by this definition, what is playing out in Rivers State currently with the declaration of a state of emergency Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu is pure tyranny. According to Tinubu the declaration was necessitated by the need to curb the breakdown of law and order in the oil-rich state. But this sounds like an afterthought to me. There are other sinister intentions. The declaration of the state of emergency was hasty and unconstitutional since it did not follow due process. It is questionable and disagreeable. It is the subversion of the will of the Rivers people who elected Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The June 12 election that was annulled 32 years ago is still generating ripples among Tinubu and his people who refused to be placated and here is the same Tinubu who claimed to have fought for democracy annulling someone’s else election.

The whole farce was premeditated and it is a battle for the control of Rivers State with the 2027 election in mind. The violence and the preconceived violence were all designed to justify this brazen act of tyranny. Since coming as the governor of Rivers State on the 29th of May, 2023, Fubara has been on a running battle with the immediate past governor of the state Nyesom Wike who is a serving minister in the current administration. There are grievous allegations about Wike demanding a certain percentage of the state monthly allocation which Fubara right declined. And ever since Wike and his team of contractors and supporters have been battling the governor.

And since the report of the Wike’s alleged interferences in the affairs of River State became public knowledge, Bola Ahmed Tinubu did nothing while he pretended to broker peace between Wike and Fubara. He still retained Wike in his cabinet despite the weight of the allegations against him and refused to call him to order.

In the heat of the crisis some members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that should have made them lose their seats in the house. The matter went to court and got to the Supreme Court and contrary to the expectations of many, the Apex court gave judgement in favor of the defectors and ordered that the state monthly allocation be withheld until the full implementation of the judgement. The governor sued for peace and tried to implement the decision of the Supreme Court including trying to re-present the state already passed budget to the State House of Assembly but he was locked out of the State Assembly complex by the belligerent state legislators apparently acting on the order from above.

So, following this scenario, declaring a state of emergency on the state, suspending the people’s governor and appointing Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd), one who is generally seen as a Wike’s ally, as the interim administrator and ordering the Central Bank to release the state allocation is tantamount to subverting the will of the people and submitting to the will of one man. It is obvious that the battle is for the soul of Rivers State and River State resources. And every other reason given is mere camouflage. Soldiers and military tanks which have not been seen the crisis Northeast have been moved into Rivers State to enforce the reign of emergency. This is intimidation and a brazen act of tyranny. It is not certain how the Rivers State people would take this. But one thing is obvious: tension is building up and nobody knows how this will be handled to avoid civil unrest and political instability in the state.

Tinubu is not contented with imposing a regime of economic hardship on Nigerians through his crude reforms but to take over the states. Withholding of state allocations, sponsored threats of impeachment and now declaration of state of emergency are tell-tales signs of tyranny. It is unfortunate that after twenty-five years of unbroken democratic rule when the nation should be strengthening its democratic institutions and consolidating on the progress made thus far, we are degenerating into anarchy…

Without equivocation, I must state that if this state of affairs as declared by Tinubu is not reversed, Tinubu may extend it to other states of the Federation. The Rivers people should reject this act of tyranny against them. The National should rise up to defend democracy. The (PDP), the party in opposition and the coalition of other political parties should lend their voices. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum should reject this for they don’t know who is next. If Nigerians want their democracy to be sustained, they must stand up protect it and resist any act that constitute danger to it. I rest my case!

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed 

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK