April 18, (THEWILL) – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, saying it saved the state from plunging into anarchy.
President Tinubu had, on March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending the governor and the state House of Assembly for six months. He also appointed a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas (retd.), as the state’s Administrator.
Speaking during a media chat on Friday, Wike said the proclamation was necessary to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order.
“The President did not want the state to descend into anarchy. He did the right thing. Without the declaration of the state of emergency, funds would not have been allocated to the state,” he said.
Commenting on the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Wike expressed disappointment that the governor had not reached out to him to discuss and resolve the issues.
“Has anybody taken it upon themselves to say, ‘This is where we are?’ If I am the cause of the problem, has he ever called me as an elder to say, ‘Let us sit down and talk’?” Wike queried.
The former Rivers governor also threw his weight behind Tinubu’s appointment of a sole administrator to manage the state’s affairs.
While acknowledging that the declaration of emergency rule is an aberration, Wike maintained that, given the prevailing situation in Rivers, the President acted in good faith and made the right decision.
He argued that Fubara missed an opportunity to resolve the crisis when President Tinubu invited all warring parties to Abuja for peace talks.
According to him, instead of embracing the reconciliation process, Fubara allowed himself to be misled by some elders from the state.
Nevertheless, Wike said he remains open to peace and reconciliation with the suspended governor.
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