NUOS INTL USA, CDHRAC Urge Fubara Not To Surrender Rivers State Governance To Iron Ruler …Advise Tinubu To Sack Wike

The National Union of Ogoni Students International, NUOS INT’L USA and the Center for Democracy Human Rights and Anti-Corruption International, CDHRAC INT’L USA have rejected the imposition of a state of emergency on Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd) as the sole administrator of the state.

The group described the state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the state as illegal, while urging Fubara “not to succumb to the antics of an iron ruler.”

They then called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately withdraw the sole administrator from the state and “end the illegal self servicing purported state of emergency in Rivers State because the state is not at war with itself or with any other state nor is the state facing any internal or external aggressions or both.”

The groups also advised the President to sack the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, from his cabinet, saying that he is the mastermind of the crisis in the state, adding that he allegedly diverted funds meant for the development of Ogoniland then.

These were contained in a statement dated Thursday March 27, 2025, and jointly signed by NUOS INT’L President, Pius Nwinee and CDHRAC INT’L Coordinator, Cornelius Dumerenee.

“What the people of Rivers State and Governor Siminalayi Fubara are currently facing is political coup masterminded by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike and his sycophants.

“The state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by the President is a product of misinformation campaign by the enemies of progress to perpetuate a state of emergency that will not only have far- reaching consequence on Rivers State, but on Nigeria at large.

“Mr President, your broadcast message to the nation, you announced in part that you have received intelligence report, but this is wrong.

“The message is aimed at creating disunity, chaos and instability in Rivers State and take down an elected Governor, which is against the rule of law and is not a solution to the political crisis in the state, which has the tendency to turn Rivers State to the treasury of Mr Wike and his criminal enterprise.

“Mr. President, there are no evidences or acts that require and demand a state of emergency, not to mention suspending or removing an elected governor, and it cannot be a cooked or manufactured evidence either by you or Barrister Wike to disrupt and perpetuate Wike’s stronghold on Rivers State.

“It poses an imminent danger to the lives and properties of the people of the state and the nation, which can cause war or internal and external aggressions.

“It is like the same conscripted false evidence or false witnesses used in the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists, especially now that you are attempting to hold discussions on oil resumption in Rivers State.

“We regret to note that Mr. President, by your self-proclamation of a state of emergency on Rivers State that is arguably unnecessary before or after your declaration, you have brought the weight of your office on Rivers State and the Governor Siminalayi Fubara of the state and it’s an indication that you cannot be trusted and that you are a conspirator in this political power grab of Rivers State.

“We are alarmed by Barr Nyesom Wike’s determination to turn Rivers State government’s treasury into his own. But we are more alarmed that you, Mr. President appears to have gone against the constitution of the country to impose a state of emergency on the state as a way of preparing for the 2027 general elections,” the statement read.

The groups insisted that even if the President has the power to declare a state of emergency on Rivers State, he has no power to declare ‘an illegal state of emergency’ on the state or suspend or remove an elected governor.

They stated that the only people that have the power or authority to suspend or remove the elected Governor of Rivers State are the people of the state.

“Mr. President, you cannot have it both ways; whether you have a right to declare a state of emergency or you have a right to ambush and cage an elected governor of a state will be tested and retested, and we shall not fold our arms or be blindfolded, but we will take our cause to every nooks and crannies of democratic institutions.

“So we urge you to ponder on your action and inaction to withdraw the imposition of administrator on Rivers State and remove Barr Nyesom Wike from your cabinet.

“We are against you using the power of government in sabotaging and disrupting the political activities in Rivers State. We urge you to reconsider your actions before Rivers State people go out to defend themselves.

“Rivers State does not begin or end in Port Harcourt, but it extends to the creeks, tributaries and enclaves.

“We, therefore, call on Sir Siminalayi Fubara not to surrender Rivers State and the people of the state to a hand picked ruler or abandon his office as the Governor of Rivers State” they said.