Rivers Crisis: INC Slams Emergency Rule, Calls It ‘Dictatorship in Civilian Clothing’
The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a rushed and biased decision.
Speaking with Vanguard on Tuesday night, INC President Prof. Benjamin Okaba described the move as “a clear state of dictatorship in civilian clothing.”
He argued that the crisis could have been avoided if Tinubu had restrained his minister, Nyesom Wike, whom he accused of attempting to seize control of the state’s resources and turn Rivers into his personal domain.
“The declaration is too hasty, lopsided, and does not align with constitutional provisions. The president ignored calls from Nigerians to rein in Wike, who has openly vowed to make governance impossible for Governor Siminalayi Fubara unless he cedes control of all local governments and agrees not to contest in 2027,” Okaba said.
He criticized Tinubu for removing Fubara while allowing Wike to remain in power. “If the governor, deputy governor, and lawmakers are being removed, then Wike and all federal appointees from Rivers State should also go. Otherwise, they will continue to exploit their positions to fuel further crises,” he added.
Okaba claimed that Wike had long considered emergency rule as a fallback option if he failed to remove Fubara through the courts or the state legislature.
The INC also expressed concerns over Fubara’s safety, urging Tinubu to ensure his security under military rule.
“The world is watching. We call on Ijaws worldwide to put the president on notice—if anything happens to our son, Governor Fubara, we will not stand by,” Okaba warned.
