Friday Lines (54) With
Dr Abubakar Alkali

Mr. President, you did the right thing by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers state over the prolonged political crisis in.

Without a doubt, the crisis, if left unchecked, could have a devastating effect on the nation’s democracy.

Your declaration on the state of emergency in Rivers is a stitch in time that saved our democracy.

Your earlier intervention in the crisis by calling the two gladiators – Governor Fubara and Minister Wike- to order was largely ignored, leaving you with no option but to declare the state of emergency.

However, the removal of Gov Fubara from the office is only but one part of the problem solved. What about the other part of the crisis? How about the one in the red corner? Your minister Nyesom Wike, who, if we are sincere to ourselves, is the fire that fuels the Rivers state political crisis to achieve a predetermined goal or better still serve his personal interests?

Mr President, to balance the equation there is the need for you to remove Mr Nyesom Wike as minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) and member of the federal executive council (FEC) so that total peace can reign in Rivers state.

Removing Governor Fubara from office and leaving Minister Wike will only solve half of the political logjam in Rivers state. To restore normalcy, Wike needs to go as well.

A state of emergency is a last resort and powers to declare it are fully conferred on you as the President in section 305 of the constitution, Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which you have invoked to restore sanity to Rivers state.

It is instructive that in your 20 paragraph speech this evening on your declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers state, you didn’t mention Nyesom Wike even once.

The speech was one-sided as only Governor Fubara bore all the brunts while Minister Wike appeared clean. Is this a confirmation of the widely held belief that the federal government has taken sides on the Rivers crisis?

Leaving Wike on the loose will surely boomerang because he will come back to renew the political crisis in Rivers after the 6 months expiration of the state of emergency (if not renewed).

The right thing to do is to demobilise Wike by removing him from his current role as FCT minister through which he oils the crisis in Rivers state.

Quite honestly, Wike’s aggravated ambition and desire to control Rivers state will not allow peace to reign in the state unless his wings are clipped.

Mr. President, Wike can still play politics for you in your bid for reelection in 2027. He can checkmate the PDP, but for the sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy and economy, he should not be allowed anywhere near the edges of executive power. The man is simply too politically smart.

Needless to add here that sustaining peaceful coexistence in Rivers state is critical for sustaining democracy in Nigeria, especially when juxtaposed with the need to safeguard our oil infrastructure, which is vital to Nigeria’s economic survival.

For once, i thank you Mr President for taking this timely intervention to restore normalcy in Rivers state but again I wish to remind you that this declaration has only solved one part of the problem (Fubara in the blue corner). The other part of the problem (Wike in the red corner) is still rolling and unless you clip his wings by removing Wike as FCT minister and member, federal executive council, the crisis may be far from over.