Emergency rule: Tinubu saves Rivers from looming dangers — Ex-minister

Former Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, has described the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as a necessary step to avert looming anarchy that could lead to bloodshed in the state.

Adegoroye said the declaration by President Bola Tinubu was to forestall the inherent dangers in the political crisis between the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and his political godfather, Nyesom Wike.

Describing the proclamation by President Tinubu as an extra-constitutional measure, Adegoroye stated that it was necessary and expedient for the president to make the declaration.

According to him, having carried out research on the decision, he is convinced that President Tinubu has taken an action and a decision that only strong and courageous leaders would take.

He said, “Only strong and courageous leaders take such decisions, especially when they are prepared to make sacrifices that will be beneficial to their countries and ensure that history records them positively, such that such individuals leave their footprints in the sands of time.

“Perhaps, just perhaps, Mr President should have waited and watched for another week or two, and Nigerians would have seen the stories that would have come out of Rivers State.

“Maybe, just maybe, those who have taken an irreversible position on the matter would take a second look at Mr President’s decision.

“Nigerians must not quickly forget that the arms and ammunition in the possession of South-South warlords and militants are such that would frighten any nation where possession of arms is illegal,” he said.

He noted that no responsible president would stand idly by and watch the political situation deteriorate and degenerate, adding that Tinubu’s actions had protected lives and property, restored law and order, and preserved the nation’s economic infrastructure.

“Who would say to me that had Governor Fubara and the Wike-supported House of Assembly still been in place, we would still be experiencing the peace we presently enjoy in Rivers?

“Strong, courageous presidents and leaders the world over take firm measures, no matter how unpleasant. This is not to say Asiwaju should become a dictator, but I say that in the instant case, he acted like a statesman.”

Adegoroye said Tinubu must have acted based on intelligence reports that were not palatable.

“We must also not forget that Mr President, on an hourly basis, has access to security information which perhaps no one else has—another factor which must have made him act promptly and decisively in the circumstances.

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“Like I pointed out earlier, only responsible leaders take extra-constitutional measures, however illegal and unpleasant, to ensure law and order and improve responsible governance,” he noted.

The former minister recalled that former American President Abraham Lincoln, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and former French President Charles de Gaulle had taken extra-constitutional measures to salvage critical situations during their reigns.

He, however, said time would tell whether the decision was taken selfishly or in good conscience for the overall good of the state.

He advised the president to further act like a statesman by intervening with a second meeting between the feuding parties, which would take balanced, far-reaching decisions in the interest of all and ensure the restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State at the end of the six-month emergency rule.

Adegoroye said Wike, the suspended governor Fubara, and all the actors in the state would have taken the six months to cool off, sober up, and reflect on their actions.

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