Picture this: Rivers State, the oil-rich belle of Nigeria, is now the stage for a political drama so intense, it makes Nollywood and even Hollywood look like a kindergarten play. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a move that has left legal experts clutching their law books, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. And not just that—he suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire House of Assembly. Yes, you read that right. The whole gang. The whole shtick. It’s like firing the entire cast of a Netflix show because the ratings dipped at IMDB.
But here’s the kicker: the Nigerian Constitution doesn’t exactly hand the president a magic wand to suspend elected officials. Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution allows for a state of emergency, sure, but it doesn’t say, “As a President, I can suspend democratically elected officials to capture any state ahead of 2027 election.” Legal heavyweights like Solomon Dalung and the Nigerian Bar Association have been quick to point out that this move is about as constitutional as a 700-naira note.
Tinubu’s Irony Olympics
Now, let’s talk about the irony so thick you could spread it on bread. Back in 2013, Tinubu was the loudest critic of then-President Goodluck Jonathan’s state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa. He called it a “dangerous trend in governance” and accused Jonathan of using it as a political tool ahead of the 2015 elections. Fast forward to 2025, and Tinubu is now the one wielding the emergency hammer. What changed? Did the Constitution get a software update we missed?
Prominent Nigerians haven’t held back either. Falz, the rapper and activist, tweeted, “There is ABSOLUTELY NO LAW that allows a president to SUSPEND a governor. Is Rivers State at war? Is there an actual breakdown of public order?”. Even APC stalwart Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze called Tinubu’s move an “affront to democracy”. When your critics include members of your own party, you know you’ve stirred the pot a little too vigorously.
The 2027 Election Chessboard
Let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t just about governance. With the 2027 elections looming, Rivers State is a political goldmine. Controlling it is like holding the keys to the kingdom. Tinubu’s move has raised eyebrows, with many questioning whether this is a strategic play to secure the state for the APC ahead of the polls. After all, Rivers isn’t just any state; it’s the economic heartbeat of Nigeria, thanks to its oil wealth.
But here’s the thing about power grabs: they tend to backfire. The people of Rivers are watching, and they’re not exactly thrilled about their democracy being put on pause. As one APC chieftain warned, “If we allow this to continue, it’ll scatter us before 2027.
So, here we are. Rivers State is in the eye of a political storm, the Constitution is being stretched like a rubber band, and the 2027 elections are already casting a long shadow. Will this gamble pay off for Tinubu, or will it become a cautionary tale of overreach? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure: Rivers State isn’t going down without a fight. And honestly, who can blame them? Rivers State; where the Constitution is treated like a suggestion box.
Stay tuned, folks. This drama is far from over.
