Diaspora Analyst Condemns Rivers State Emergency Declaration As ‘Hasty, Premature, Incomplete’

Mr. Vitalismary Unachukwu, a prominent political analyst based in the diaspora, has issued a scathing critique of President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, deeming it “hasty, premature, and incompletely done.”

In a strongly worded statement, Mr. Unachukwu argues that the intervention, while seemingly aimed at restoring peace, is fundamentally flawed by its failure to address the perceived role of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike in the ongoing crisis.

Unachukwu questions the President’s prior inaction, asking, “Since [Wike] started tinkering with the governance and operation of the legitimate government of Rivers State…what did President Tinubu do?

“Has he ever called Nyesom Wike and his warring camp to order? How many times did he sue for peace?” He casts doubt on the sincerity of the President’s intervention, suggesting it was driven by the recent explosion of an oil pipeline in Port Harcourt and a subsequent emergency meeting with service chiefs, rather than a genuine desire for reconciliation.

The analyst’s central criticism revolves around the exclusion of Wike from the sanctions applied. “Declaring a State of Emergency, suspending the Executive Governor, Deputy Governor and the State House of Assembly, without suspending Wike, is arbitrary and unjust,”

Unachukwu asserts, labeling the action “vaguely handled” and suggesting it amounts to a “calculated miscarriage of justice.”

He contends that allowing Wike to remain in a sensitive ministerial portfolio while his political opponents are suspended undermines the credibility of the President’s efforts to restore order.

Unachukwu urges the people of Rivers State to demand Wike’s suspension as a condition for accepting the state of emergency, arguing that “Tinubu’s action to make peace cannot go far enough in achieving the purpose for the declaration” without it.

He further accuses the President of rushing to judgment without exhausting local remedies, questioning whether Tinubu’s administration truly explored peaceful resolutions before resorting to such drastic measures.

The statement also highlights the controversial Supreme Court decision regarding the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected from the PDP to the APC, allegedly at Wike’s behest.

Unachukwu argues that this decision “escalated the situation, thereby fueling the crises in the State,” and criticizes the government for condoning what he sees as a potential slide into anarchy.

Concluding with a grim outlook, Unachukwu warns that “any further mishandling of the Rivers State crises, may signal a larger picture of the fury and pale of gloom that may befall Nigeria as a nation and consequently result in its disintegration and demise.”

He suggests that the President’s actions have been biased in favor of Wike and express concern that the declaration may not prevent further violence in the Niger Delta.

The analyst ends his statement with a plea for “Justice, Equity and Fairness” and a prayer for the people of Rivers State during these turbulent times.

This critical analysis from a respected diaspora figure is likely to add fuel to the already heated debate surrounding the state of emergency and President Tinubu’s handling of the Rivers State political crisis.

The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the situation can be de-escalated and a lasting solution found.