The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a hasty and lopsided decision.
INC President, Prof Benjamin Okaba, in a chat with Vanguard on Tuesday night, described the move as “a clear state of dictatorship in civilian clothing.”
He blamed the crisis on Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing him of attempting to capture state power and resources for personal control.
“The president has so much opportunity to leverage on the calls made by Nigerians from all quarters to call his minister to order,” Okaba said.
“Wike himself has been the major antagonist as he has boldly stated clearly that he will make governance impossible for Fubara in as much as he does not dance to his tune.”
Okaba alleged that Wike set conditions for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to retain power, including relinquishing control of local governments and agreeing not to seek re-election in 2027.
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“It is obvious that the man is desperate in capturing state power, state resources and wants to turn Rivers State into a personal estate and property,” he added.
The INC President also criticised the selective nature of the emergency rule, arguing that Wike should have been removed alongside Fubara.
“The best thing to do is to take off everybody that has played a major role. In as much as the state governor, deputy governor and assembly are going, Wike should also go,” he stated.
He further alleged that imposing emergency rule was part of Wike’s plan all along. “We have seen right from the beginning that the declaration of state of emergency was one of the options Wike was looking at if the judiciary could not remove him quickly.”
Okaba warned that Fubara’s safety must be guaranteed, especially with the military now in control.
“I’m sure Fubara’s security would be in jeopardy now that the military had taken over the reign of power in the state,” he said. “We need the Ijaws worldwide to rise up and place Mr. President on notice should anything wrong happen to our son Fubara!!”