WHY NO EMERGENCY RULE IN LAGOS DURING OBASA SAGA?, UTOMI QUESTIONS TINUBU

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Professor Pat Utomi has challenged President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing that there was no legitimate basis for such a move.

In a nationwide broadcast on March 18, 2025, President Tinubu cited militant pipeline vandalism and the political situation in Rivers as reasons for imposing emergency rule on the state.

As part of the declaration, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs, following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

However, in an interview on Channels Television, Prof. Utomi criticized the move, stating that the political crisis in Rivers did not justify a state of emergency.

He further argued that even during previous administrations, when militants were actively sabotaging pipelines, the state was never placed under emergency rule.

Prof Utomi further questioned the president for not declaring a state of emergency in Lagos State during the crisis involving the Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and his colleagues.

“What is the problem in Rivers State that warranted a state of emergency? Tell me what it is. When pipelines were blowing up like popcorn in Rivers State, was there a state of emergency?”

Why did he not declare a state of emergency in Lagos State when the assembly was running back and forth? Why Rivers? There’s something about fairness, equity and pure decency, and I don’t see it here, and I think it’s a shame that they want to rubbish the democracy that we all fought so hard for.”

Prof Utomi also blasted the National Assembly for endorsing President Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

According to him, the endorsement was an insult to Nigerians.