President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State has reignited calls for self-determination among the Ijaw ethnic group in the Niger Delta.
President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof Benjamin Okaba, described the decision as a “slap” on the Ijaw people, saying it would be a key agenda in an upcoming stakeholders’ meeting.
“In that meeting, I am sure the Ijaw people will look at how we have fared in this Nigerian project and what options are left to drive home our quest for self-determination,” Okaba said in an interview with Vanguard.
He criticised Tinubu’s decision as hasty, arguing that the president should have addressed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s role in the state’s crisis before taking such drastic action.
“The president had so much opportunity to leverage on the calls made by Nigerians from all quarters to call his minister, Nyesom Wike, to order,” Okaba said.
He accused Wike of orchestrating the crisis in Rivers by attempting to control local governments and pressuring Governor Siminalayi Fubara to sign an agreement not to contest in 2027.
“The man, Wike, is desperate to capture state power and resources,” Okaba stated, insisting that the former governor had turned Rivers into his personal property at the expense of the people.
He faulted Tinubu for not holding Wike accountable, saying: “I said it is lopsided—why will you leave Wike and sack Sim? The best thing is to remove everybody who played a role in this.”
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Similarly, retired Delta State Customary Court president, Miakpor Emiaso, said the state of emergency was inevitable but criticised Tinubu’s approach as biased.
“The president’s language declaring the state of emergency has some subtle political bias,” he said, noting that Tinubu failed to acknowledge Wike’s influence in the crisis.
He warned that keeping Wike in office would allow him to manipulate the newly appointed administrator. “If the president wants to be viewed as fair, he should move Wike from where he is now,” Emiaso added.
Former Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) president, Dr Chris Ekiyor, called the decision a “rude shock,” arguing that it made Tinubu appear subservient to Wike.
“Wike strategically orchestrated all the crises in Rivers State while the president watched,” Ekiyor said. He questioned the legitimacy of the lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC, saying their continued presence in the House breached the Electoral Act.
He also criticised Wike’s confrontational stance against the Ijaw people, citing past remarks and actions, including the use of tear gas on protesters.
“Wike left the issues and threatened the entire Ijaw people over a mere disagreement with his candidate,” Ekiyor said.
Comparing the Rivers situation to past political crises, he noted that Tinubu, as governor of Lagos, had opposed former President Olusegun Obasanjo without facing a state of emergency.
“How did the president conclude that Fubara is behind the explosions in Rivers State? Why does he not think it is those fighting him?” he asked.
Former presidential candidate Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim warned that the political crisis in Rivers should not be allowed to spiral further, saying: “Nigeria needs development and stability, not power struggles.”
He expressed concerns over the precedent Tinubu’s action could set, arguing that political conflicts in the past were ideological, not personal.
“The current situation in Rivers State reflects a dangerous shift in Nigeria’s political culture that could undermine our democratic order,” he said.
He urged Tinubu to exercise caution, stressing that extreme measures like emergency rule should be applied fairly to prevent further instability.