- Blasts Tinubu for Over Unconstitutional Act…
By Abiola Olawale
Former Governor of Rivers State Rotimi Amaechi has again weighed in on the crisis in the oil-rich state, claiming that the rivalry between the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is allegedly rooted in a dispute over money sharing.
Amaechi, a prominent figure in Rivers politics and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) asserted that the conflict, which he said has destabilized governance in the state, is purportedly less about ideological differences and more about financial control.
The former governor also criticized President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, which led to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for an initial six-month period.
Amaechi labelled the move as unconstitutional, arguing that it undermines democracy in the state.
He asserted: “The fight between the current governor of Rivers State and the FCT minister is about sharing money. If not, what’s the quarrel?
“Nigerians don’t dislike corruption again. I’ve not seen anybody on the street querying what the problem is. Can both of them speak to the public and tell us what the problem is about?
“The president wants a power grab. They want to frighten governors who may not support them in 2027,” he said.
He also questioned the justification for the emergency rule, pointing out that other regions facing severe security challenges have not been subjected to similar actions.
“If the president said it is because of insecurity because they blew the pipeline, what about parts of the country where there is insecurity? Is the president saying they should impose an emergency rule on him, too?”
Amaechi maintained that security matters fall under the president’s jurisdiction, not the governor’s, and insisted that Fubara is being unfairly punished.
“Rivers governor has no security responsibility; it rests squarely on the president. So why punish a man who did not commit an offence?” he added.
