Former Presidential Adviser, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has raised concerns over that declaration of state of emergency in Rivers state President Bola Ahmed Tinubu calling the move “reckless and unnecessary.”
In a strongly worded statement, Ojudu questioned the rationale behind such a decision, arguing that it could have severe political and economic consequences for Nigeria.
“If this is true, then I must ask: Who advised the President to take this course of action? Whoever it is, they are certainly not a friend of his administration, nor do they have the best interests of Nigeria at heart,” Ojudu said.
The former aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari described the ongoing crisis in Rivers State as a “simple political dispute” that requires dialogue, not drastic measures. He urged Tinubu to call both warring parties—Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara—to order, rather than escalate tensions.
Ojudu warned that political instability in the Niger Delta could have devastating consequences for Nigeria’s already fragile economy. Citing previous crises that led to a collapse in oil production, he reminded the administration that Nigeria twice entered a recession under Buhari due to unrest in the oil-rich region.
“At one point, Nigeria’s oil production fell below 400,000 barrels per day, down from 2.5 million barrels per day. That catastrophic drop in production was a direct result of political mismanagement and conflict in the region,” he said, adding that any escalation could lead to renewed attacks on oil infrastructure, illegal oil bunkering, and a loss of investor confidence.
Beyond the economy, Ojudu highlighted the security implications, stating that Nigeria’s military is already stretched thin in the fight against insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping across the country. Diverting resources to Rivers State, he argued, could weaken the fight against terrorism in the North East, North West, and North Central regions.
A Call for Rethink
Describing a state of emergency as an “admission of failure,” Ojudu urged President Tinubu to reconsider the decision before it causes irreversible damage.
“This portends disaster—for your administration, for the economy, and for the nation,” he warned. “There are far more effective, far less destructive ways to handle this situation.”
As of now, the presidency has not issued an official confirmation of the state of emergency, but the growing concerns signal potential political tensions ahead.
