Rivers Emergency Rule Is One-sided Judgement – Ijaw Group

A diaspora advocacy group, the Muduugha Ijaw Association Abroad (MIAA), has described President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State and the subsequent suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly for six months as a misstep and one-sided judgement.

MIAA international director, Dr Bibobra Bibo, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday, further described Tinubu’s intervention as “targeted,” claiming that it exacerbates existing ethnic tensions and undermines the Ijaw community’s leadership.

Bibo called on the president to engage with all parties involved in the conflict and advocate for a more inclusive resolution process.

He said, “The president must ensure fairness and dialogue rather than resorting to actions that deepen ethnic tensions.”

The Ijaw group leader wondered why Tinubu blamed Fubara for the political crisis in the state without acknowledging the significant role of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike.

Bibo said, “President Tinubu’s speech deliberately ignored the role of Nyesom Wike, who has been at the heart of the feud among the parties involved.”

He stated that the crisis in the state is rooted in political rivalries rather than solely in Fubara’s governance.