According to Rotimi Amaechi, the former governor of Rivers State, the ongoing political crisis in the oil-rich region boils down to two key issues: money-sharing and the looming 2027 elections. During a recent interview with DW Africa, Amaechi expressed his concerns about the friction between the current governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, which he claims centers around financial disputes.
Amaechi didn’t hold back in his critique of how President Bola Tinubu has handled the situation, particularly pointing out that the emergency rule imposed on Rivers was politically motivated and unconstitutional. "The fight between the current governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory is fundamentally about money-sharing," he stated. "What else could explain their quarrel? It seems the public's perception of corruption has shifted, people are no longer questioning the underlying issues; rather, they accept the circumstances as they are."
He elaborated on the gravity of the situation, saying, "Rivers State is currently the only state in Nigeria that is deprived of democracy. We are living under what feels like military rule, rather than a democratic government." Amaechi further emphasized that the President's decision to impose an emergency order contradicts constitutional provisions outlined in Section 188, which specifies how a governor can vacate office—be it through death, resignation, or impeachment, not through arbitrary presidential action.
The former governor also pointed out that the President's motivations appear tied to maintaining political influence ahead of the upcoming 2027 elections. "There are whispers suggesting that any governor who dares to oppose him could face similar consequences. The crisis in Rivers is inherently linked to both financial disputes and political maneuvering for the future," he asserted.
Amaechi raised important questions regarding the rationale behind the state of emergency. "If the President claims a recent pipeline explosion in Rivers warranted this drastic measure, what about the insecurity that plagues other regions of the country? Are those areas not equally deserving of attention?" He questioned why the President, a democratically elected leader, wasn't subjected to the same scrutiny and emergency measures despite ongoing issues in various regions, including the North East, North West, South East, and South South.
"The governor should not bear the burden for the explosion of those pipes.
security is fundamentally the responsibility of the President," Amaechi argued. "Punishing a governor for circumstances beyond his control undermines the very tenets of democratic governance."
In conclusion, Amaechi has called upon the people of Rivers State to stand firm against the President's emergency declaration, urging them to voice their dissent and demand accountability. As the political landscape shifts in anticipation of the 2027 elections, the stakes in Rivers State have never been higher.
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