Human rights activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, has strongly condemned the recent political upheaval following the removal of River State governor and the appointment of a sole administrator, describing it as a blatant disruption of Nigeria’s democratic process.
Speaking during an interview on Channels TV yesterday in Abuja, Sowore distanced himself from accusations of inciting unrest, stating, “I‘m not the one calling for mayhem. They are the ones who have introduced mayhem into the polity.”
LEADERSHIP reports that the Senate, on Thursday, approved the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
The resolution was taken during a closed-door session of the legislators, where they deliberated on the declaration and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and other elected officials.
Sowore criticized the swift and unilateral action to oust the governor—whether “democratically elected or selected”—and to replace him with a sole administrator. “I’m not the one who woke up yesterday and decided that a governor… should be removed and a sole administrator is put in place immediately,” he emphasized.
The activist further accused the authorities of having ulterior motives rooted in financial control. “They went straight to what they wanted—that is, to release the allocation of the state to a person who is illegitimate.”
Expressing deep skepticism about the National Assembly’s independence, Sowore added, “Whoever is thinking that the National Assembly is going to come back and say, ‘well, we disagree with this,’ I have a bridge to sell to you. Nothing is going to happen.”
He urged Nigerians to remain alert, warning that further justifications for the controversial decision could soon follow. “They’re just waiting for them to wrap up. Even if they don’t get the numbers they want, they will give you some justification, and this is better company for Nigerian people.”
