Renowned journalist and politician, Dele Momodu, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for his silence on the role played by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Momodu, reacting to Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accused the President of enabling Wike’s actions.
“Mr. President, your silence on the active role played by your Minister of the FCT in the Rivers impasse is golden and enabling. He has become a law unto himself because he was playing out your script. Now we know,” Momodu stated.
His reaction follows a strong condemnation from the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), which described Tinubu’s actions as an attack on democracy.
In a statement issued by its Forum Chairman, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, the Governor of Bauchi State, the PDP governors expressed grave concern over what they termed the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers State.
“The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum notes with grave concern and utter misgiving the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers State by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast of Tuesday, 18th March, 2025,” the statement read.
The forum declared its solidarity with Governor Fubara and the people of Rivers State, warning that the move posed a major threat to democracy in Nigeria.
“We stand in solidarity with His Excellency, Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and the good people of Rivers State at this very difficult and trying moment of the state’s political history. There is no other time that our philosophy of ‘TOUCH ONE, TOUCH ALL’ is more apt than now.”
Accusing Tinubu and Wike of targeting opposition parties, the PDP governors described the decision as “unstatemanly, biased, and divisive.”
“This unwarranted but premeditated attack on Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties is today the greatest threat to democracy in our dear country. It is an ill wind that will blow no one any good,” the statement continued.
The PDP governors warned that the move would exacerbate political crises, deepen mistrust, elevate security threats, destroy the economy, and undermine national cohesion and stability.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also raised concerns about Tinubu’s purported suspension of the Rivers State Governor, Deputy Governor, and House of Assembly members.
In a statement signed by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the association reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the Constitution and defending democratic governance.
