Attorney-General Defends Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers, Says It Prevented Governance Collapse

Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi has strongly defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, insisting it was necessary to prevent a total collapse of governance.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Fagbemi justified the controversial move, which saw Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly suspended from office. The president’s decision, he noted, was prompted by the vandalization of oil pipelines in the state just hours before the declaration.

“The president has acted timeously,” Fagbemi stated. “He gave all parties involved the opportunity to make amends and had even attempted to mediate before taking this action.”

The declaration has sparked intense political debate, with critics questioning why Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and a key figure in Rivers State politics, was not sanctioned despite allegations of his involvement in the crisis.

Responding to concerns about Wike’s role, Fagbemi pointed to a Supreme Court ruling, emphasizing that there was no legal basis to implicate the former Rivers governor.

“Was Wike the one who ordered the demolition of the House of Assembly? Did he tell the governor not to present his budget to the assembly? Did he advise against the legislative approval of commissioner nominees? I don’t know,” Fagbemi said pointedly.

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He argued that the Supreme Court’s findings did not feature Wike in any significant capacity. “Even if he was involved, it would have been on the side of the legislators, but the directive is clear—everyone must step aside for six months. I don’t see his hand in this.”

The decision to suspend the Rivers State leadership has deepened the political crisis in the oil-rich region, with opposition voices condemning it as an overreach of executive power. Meanwhile, supporters of Tinubu argue that drastic measures were necessary to restore stability.