Shock and disbelief as Tinubu declare state of emergency in Rivers State

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After a long period of heat occasioned by penetrating sunshines, the rains fell heavily in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Tuesday evening. Even though the downpour flooded many parts of the city, residents welcomed it as a soothing balm to the heat and sleepless nights the heat caused.

But just as the rains stopped, and the storm waters were coursing their ways out of the flooded roads and neighbourhoods, the airways came alive with the news of the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, who appointed Ibok Abas, a retired vice-admiral as sole administrator of the state for six months in the first instance.

The news, however, had been taken differently by Nigerians and people of Rivers, with a lot of them expressing shock and disbelief.
Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, described the state of emergency as an assault on democracy. It “reeks of political manipulation and outright bad faith,” he added.

He said President Tinubu has been a vested partisan actor in the political turmoil in Rivers State. ” His blatant refusal or calculated negligence in preventing the escalation is nothing short of painful.”
Simeon Ahiamadu, a resident of the state said the state of emergency was all planned out. “The recent blowouts were orchestrated by Wike and his boys to make room for the declaration of the state of emergency.”

Patience Osaroejiji, the Initiator of Mba the Okase Eleme Initiative and former senatorial candidate from Rivers Southeast said the state of emergency would not resolve the crisis because those behind it were not interested in the feelings of the people.

She said the governor was doing a good job, which has been appreciated by the people, especially civil servants, whose promotions have been done and their entitlements paid. “I don’t think that the state of emergency will resolve the problem. It’s even going to create more harm,” she said.

An industrialist and former commissioner in the state, Emi-Membere Otaji, described the declaration of a state of emergency as unfortunate. ” I guess it’s a hard decision the President has to take. But it’s important that all the major players on both sides are put in abeyance that they can have a conversation,” he said.

Feeling sad that the matter got to this stage, Otaji said the governor was performing well despite the distractions. “The masses love him whether we like it or not. His actions resonated with a lot of people,” Otaji, the Deputy National President of the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Mines and Agriculture told the magazine.

Enefaa George will, the Chairman of Civil Society Organisation in Rivers State said what the president did was a demonstration of dictatorship. “We are ruled by civilian dictators. This is not democracy but full-blown dictatorship.”

Chidi Eleke said the president was not fair to Governor Siminilayi Fubara. “Tinubu is now very highly biased against Fubara. Wike is now untouchable.”

Akin Adekunle, a resident of Port Harcourt said Governor is on the table for his traducers. “To expect the cockroach to be vindicated in the court of chickens is a pipe dream.”

Emmanuel Ejire said, “This is a dark day for Rivers State and Rivers people. A state of emergency in a democratic setting portends either an inability to govern ourselves or our inability maintain law and order in the state. It is sad and shameful.”

Meanwhile, the sole administrator has taken over affairs at Government House, Port Harcourt. Barely an hour after the state of emergency was declared, Vice-admiral Ibok drove in company of a convoy of military vehicles to Government House, Port Harcourt.

Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution empowered the President to declare a state of emergency in the country or any part when there is war or situations that do not guarantee the maintenance of law and order.