2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has advised political leaders in Rivers State to draw lessons from the recent six-month emergency rule imposed by the Federal Government.
President Bola Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state, citing security concerns. The measure led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and the appointment of retired naval chief, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, as sole administrator.
Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to justify the action, which drew criticism as a constitutional overreach. On Wednesday, the president lifted the emergency rule, stating that new intelligence indicated “a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding” in the state.
Reacting on Thursday through his X handle, Obi described the intervention as a breach of the Constitution and a setback for Nigeria’s democracy. He argued that emergency powers were designed strictly for situations of grave threats to public safety or national security.
Also see: Wike Commends Tinubu for Restoring Democracy in Rivers
“I just hope that some lessons were learned by all the gladiators in the Rivers State impasse,” Obi wrote. “A true leader is the one who admits his mistakes, is smart enough to learn from them, and strong enough to correct them.”
The former Anambra State governor commended Rivers residents for their resilience during the political turmoil, while urging Governor Fubara, state lawmakers, and other political actors to embrace reconciliation and prioritize peace.
The political crisis in Rivers stemmed from a fierce rivalry between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The feud triggered mass defections in the state assembly, allegations of corruption, and governance paralysis.
Obi concluded with optimism, stressing that “a new Nigeria is possible and inevitable.”
