A former Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, has described the state of emergency in Rivers as a proactive step to prevent an escalating political crisis.
During a media chat with journalists on Saturday in Akure, Adegoroye warned that if individual political interests in the state were not addressed promptly, the situation could spiral into violence and destruction.
He described President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation as an extra-constitutional measure but argued it was necessary and expedient under the circumstances.
According to him, Tinubu had acted as only strong and courageous leaders would.
“Only strong and courageous leaders make such decisions, especially when they are willing to make sacrifices for their countries and ensure history remembers them positively.
“Perhaps the President should have waited two weeks, and Nigerians would have seen the consequences in Rivers. Maybe then, critics would reconsider their stance on his decision,” he said.
Adegoroye noted that the arms in possession of South-South warlords and militants could frighten any nation where gun ownership is illegal.
He argued that no responsible president would stand idly by and watch a political situation deteriorate. Tinubu, he said, had acted to protect lives, restore order and safeguard infrastructure.
“Who can say that if Governor Fubara and the Wike-backed House of Assembly were still in place, we would have the peace we now enjoy in Rivers.
“Strong, courageous leaders take firm measures, no matter how unpleasant. That is not to say Asiwaju should become a dictator, but in this case, he acted as a statesman,” he said.
Adegoroye suggested Tinubu must have acted based on unpalatable intelligence reports that demanded urgent intervention.
“We must remember that the President receives hourly security updates that others do not. This would have influenced his swift and decisive action.
“Only responsible leaders take extra-constitutional measures, however illegal or unpleasant, to maintain law and order and improve governance,” he added.
He cited Abraham Lincoln, Indira Gandhi and Charles de Gaulle as leaders who took extraordinary measures to stabilise their nations in critical moments.
Time, he said, would reveal whether Tinubu’s decision was selfish or made in good conscience for the greater good of the state.
He urged the President to further act as a statesman by convening a second meeting between the feuding parties.
Such a meeting, he added, would ensure balanced and far-reaching decisions that restore democratic governance in Rivers at the end of the six-month emergency rule.
Adegoroye stated that Wike, the suspended governor and other key actors would use this period to reflect, be sober and reconsider their actions.
