Opinion
Rule Of Law Versus Presidential Directive
The former Editor of Manchester Guardian, Charles Prestwich Scott (20th October 1864 to first January 1932), is widely quoted as saying, “Comment is free but facts are Sacred”.This maxim is not only realistic but also in tandem with the remarks of Jesus Christ when He, said, It is written, in Matthew Chapter 4, verse 4 in the story of temptation as written in the Bible. As if that is not enough, Pan Africanist and Ghanaian Leader, Kwame Nkrumah, is quoted as saying, “A principle is either wholly kept or wholly abandoned and that any slightest compromise means the total abandonment of the principle. From the fore going, the remarks of Jesus Christ, Charles Prestwich Scott, and Kwame Nkrumah are all needed to build an egalitarian society, including operating constitutional democracy and Rule of Law.
It is for this reason a textual analysis of the recent Presidential Directive is needed to evaluate the order by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu with regard to recent political crisis in Rivers State. President Tinubu not long ago summoned a meeting in the Presidential Villa to broker peace between Governor Siminalayi Fubara, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders comprising the Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, defected former Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, Chief Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief Adokiye Amesimaka, David Briggs, among others.The truce emanating from the all-important meeting states an 8-point guidelines and they are as follows: All matters instituted in the courts by warring parties should be withdrawn immediately, all impeachment proceedings initiated against Governor Fubara by Rivers State House of Assembly be dropped immediately, to recognise the leadership of Martin Amaewhule of the Rivers State House of Assembly and not that of Edison Ehie and by implication recognise the 26 Legislators who had voluntarily defected to the APC.
The resolution include payment of the remuneration and benefits of all 26 legislators and their staff must be re-instated and Governor Fubara henceforth should not interfere with the full funding of the state Legislature while the Rivers State House of Assembly shall choose where they want to sit, the Governor of Rivers State shall re-present the state budget proposal to a properly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly.
The names of all commissioners of the state executive council who had resigned their appointments should be resubmitted to the House of Assembly for approval and lastly there should not be a caretaker committee for the LGAs in the state. It is worthy of note that the political crisis in Rivers State deepened when the Martin Amaewhule-led faction launched impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara, suspended the majority leader, Edison Ehie, after which the hallowed chamber was burnt, accompanied by defection of 26 members to APC and demolition of the whole Rivers State House of Assembly Complex.
A scatting evaluation of the 8-point truce suggests a lopsided or one-sided truce in favour of former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for which Governor Siminalayi Fubara just signed. It is on record that the lopsided truce has attracted mixed reactions, outright and widespread condemnations for about two weeks..Ijaw Leader and Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, Former Commissioner for Works, Rivers State, David Briggs, Ann Ann-kio Briggs, Amabipi Martin and some environmentalists in Ogoni tribe have all condemned the one-sided truce. Besides, the 8-point truce has opened up serious legal and constitutional matters in Nigerian polity few months after legal tussles that characterised Election Petitions Appeal that ended in the Supreme Court as well as off season elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States.
It remains a puzzle that the 26 State Legislators who resigned were asked to return to their seats with full financial benefits and remunerations to be indemnified, but nothing was said to them to return to their former party, the PDP. Worse still, Governor Fubara was also asked to re-present 2024 budget proposal to the House of Assembly and the Commissioners who voluntarily resigned should be reconsidered by Governor Fubara to be re-represented to the Rivers State House of Assembly. At this juncture, one may ask, is Nigeria running a constitution democracy based on Rule of Law or Rule of Man or Presidential Directive as exhibited by the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
The recent development of President Tinubu has called to memory the song of legendry singer, Sunny Oko-Sun, when he sang “which way Nigeria”This is because president Tinubu on the day of swearing in or inauguration swore an oath to govern, and rule by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. For instance, section 109 sub section 1 (g) states that:(1) A member of a House of Assembly shall vacate his seat in the House if-(g) being a person whose election to the House of Assembly was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected:Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.Truly, comment is free but facts are sacred.
It is also on record that the Edison Ehie-led group obtained an exparte order restraining Martin Amaewhule and Dumle Maol as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively while Amaewhule and Moal on the other hand went to another High Court of same jurisdiction to obtain another exparte order when the court orders have not been vacated.This is where the lamentation of American Essayists, Sylvia Pratt, who wrote in the famous poem, “Conversation Among the Ruined,” comes to mind, “which such blight wrought on our bankrupt estate, what ceremony of words can patch the havoc”. It is in-fact, appauling that Nigeria is declining from bad election, to courtocracy and rule of man in place of constitutional democracy.
The attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should be drawn to the fact that he is not only taciturn but also evasive on Rale of Law but to build a virile society where the political class and leadership should not trivialise constitutional orders.I am glad that senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, had drawn the attention of President Tinubu to this fact. Surprisingly, the PDP has not been vocal enough.The fact that Independent National Electoral Commission should go ahead and conduct election into the Vacant 26 seats of Rivers State House of Assembly is not strong enough but to test the efficacy of the constitution in court. No PDP Governor has visited Governor Fubara; whereas opposition party.Former Vice President Atiku Abubaka has also not visited and identified with Governor Fubara even as Governor Fubara has not opened-up enough to meet his party–the PDP.
The gap in the truce brokered by President Tinubu has left many with the mindset that the drama gives an impression that the scenario is tending towards forcing Governor Fubara and the entire State to be APC State before 2027 elections. It is therefore pertinent to appeal to well-meaning individuals, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to intervene more than ever, now that the political impasse has not resulted in bloodbath. One thing is necessary; Rivers People should not gravitate towards ethnic lines but avoid ethnic bias. It may be necessary for the FCT Minister and his supporters to remember that crisis does no’ one any good but people,.no one, be it President Tinubu or FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike should not constitute themselves as an appellate court while Governor Fubara must talk out so that Rivers people can know their prayer points to present to God. It is welcoming that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has indicated to pay any price for peace even as both sides need to sacrifice pride and personal aggrandisement to engender peaceful co-existence.
Sika is a social/political analyst
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
-
Business5 days ago
CRG Partner JR Farms To Plant 30m Coffee Seedlings
-
Foods/Drinks5 days ago
What To Know About Your Menu
-
Niger Delta5 days agoDon Highlights On The Potential Of Groundwater As Hidden Wealth For Sustainable Future
-
Rivers5 days ago
Four Internet Fraudstars Get Different Jail Terms In PH
-
Opinion5 days ago
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
-
Business5 days ago
PH Women Plan Alternative Stew, Shun Tomato High Prices
-
Sports5 days ago
Nigerian Athletes Serving Doping Bans
-
Niger Delta5 days agoNDLEA Intercepts 584.171kg Hard Drugs In Bayelsa … Arrests 559 Suspects