The Presidency has rejected accusations that the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other political figures was an attempt to seize power. Instead, it insists that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened to prevent a complete breakdown of governance and law and order in the state.
A statement released on Sunday, March 23, 2025, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained the urgency of the decision. He noted that ignoring the worsening crisis in Rivers could have led to an uncontrollable situation, endangering lives and Nigeria’s economy.
The conflict in Rivers State arose from a political struggle between Governor Fubara and lawmakers aligned with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. The dispute had severely disrupted governance, with neither side willing to back down despite Supreme Court rulings reinforcing constitutional order.
The Presidency noted that intelligence reports indicated armed groups in the creeks were prepared to attack vital oil infrastructure. This posed a serious threat to national economic security, as Rivers is a key oil-producing state.
“Imagine a Rivers State where President Tinubu hesitated. The political standoff could have spiraled into violence, with attacks on lawmakers and the state’s vital oil infrastructure at risk. Schools and hospitals would shut down, investors would flee, and the human and economic toll would be catastrophic,” the statement read.
By March 18, the situation had worsened to the point that normal political processes could no longer resolve it, making federal intervention necessary.
Some critics have called the move an attack on democracy, but the Presidency insists it was a temporary measure to restore stability.
“This is no power grab,” the statement noted. “The intervention is temporary, surgical, and aimed at restoring—not replacing—democratic institutions. The six-month suspension is designed to disarm warring factions and stabilize governance.”
The statement also pointed out that many critics who now oppose the suspension remained silent when Governor Fubara refused to cooperate with the state legislature. It argued that democracy cannot function in a lawless environment.
“Democracy cannot thrive amid lawlessness—anarchy is its antithesis,” Onanuga stated.
Citing Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, the Presidency defended the decision, noting that the law empowers the President to act when there is a breakdown of law and order. It also referenced past interventions, including states of emergency declared in Plateau and
