Actress Hilda Dokubo has weighed in on the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, insisting that the turmoil extends beyond Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who was recently suspended by President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Dokubo described the crisis as an orchestrated attempt to seize control of the state’s economic resources.
“I’ll say it over and over, what is going on in Rivers State is not about Fubara. What is going on in Rivers State is a comeback for the economic soul of the state. Someone wants to grab the economic soul of Rivers State,” she declared.
She went on to highlight key achievements under Fubara’s administration, particularly in civil service and infrastructure development.
“This is the first time civil servants have been paid the 13th month of every Christmas. For the first time, civil servants have been paid all their salaries. For the first time, there are roads connecting the riverine communities, it had never happened,” she said.
Dokubo further alleged that the governor had been deliberately frustrated at every turn before his suspension, adding that the political unrest was a calculated move.
“What’s going on in Rivers State is not democracy. It’s criminality. It’s no worse than what happened in Lagos a few days ago. We all knew how they settled it,” she said.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu announced a six-month suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing escalating political tension and governance breakdown as reasons for the action.
Reacting strongly, Dokubo condemned the move, stating:
“State of emergency because for two years we have had peace! State of emergency because you want to capture the economic soul of Rivers State! State of emergency because of one man? Shameless! Perhaps Mr. President should say he wants to annex Rivers State.”
Drawing parallels to George Orwell’s Animal Farm, she suggested that every Rivers citizen should read the book for enlightenment, adding: “The Animal Farm by George Orwell should be given to every Rivers State citizen as palliative. Meantime, someone tell Mr. Jones to rein in his pigs.”
