The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, stated that President Bola Tinubu intentionally decided to terminate the six-month emergency rule that was imposed on Rivers State for the greater good of the state.
President Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in Rivers State during the height of the conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and supporters of his estranged political mentor, Wike, who was the immediate past governor of the state.
Tinubu had suspended Fubara, Ngozi Odu, the Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers House of Assembly for a duration of six months.
He appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibot Ekwe Ibas, as the Sole Administrator of the State, a decision that faced significant criticism.
On Wednesday, the President declared the conclusion of the emergency rule, indicating that feedback from the state suggested there was no justification for it to continue any longer.
During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday night, Wike elaborated that there were measures the government could have implemented to extend the emergency rule.
“I was watching on television today, and there are individuals who are natural crisis instigators, who believe they can only gain from a crisis,” he remarked.
“If we had wished for the state of emergency to remain in effect, we could have taken one or two actions to ensure its continuation. However, we acted in the best interest of the state.