Lagos, March 22, 2025 (TNZ) – The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) has thrown its support behind President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing that the move was crucial to prevent further chaos and anarchy in the region.
In a statement released over the weekend, TMSG emphasized that the intelligence at the President’s exclusive disposal justified the action. The group said the political crisis in Rivers State had reached a boiling point, necessitating constitutional intervention.
TMSG’s Chairman, Emeka Nwankpa, and Secretary, Dapo Okubanjo, expressed concern over the inability of both the Rivers State government and lawmakers to reach a compromise despite several interventions, including a Supreme Court ruling. They argued that President Tinubu had no option but to step in to restore peace and governance.
“The president acted proactively to defuse an already charged situation,” the statement read. “This follows the hard-line positions and reluctance of both parties to heed the voice of reason. Despite the Supreme Court ruling, neither party was willing to return the state to peaceful governance.”
The group further explained that prior to the state of emergency declaration, President Tinubu had brokered a peace deal in December 2023 between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the lawmakers. The agreement, which took place in Abuja, was expected to resolve key issues, including recognizing the Martin Amaewhule-led assembly, presenting the 2024 budget, and reinstating the lawmakers’ remunerations.
However, according to TMSG, these terms were never fully implemented. “The governor did not send the 2024 budget to the assembly for approval, and the lawmakers’ benefits were never reinstated,” the statement added.
The group also pointed out that comparisons between President Tinubu’s actions and those of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2013 emergency declarations in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states were misguided. While Jonathan’s emergency rule was implemented in response to security threats, TMSG stressed that the situation in Rivers State was purely political.
“The difference here is that Rivers State was not facing a security crisis but was embroiled in political turmoil,” TMSG noted. “President Tinubu’s decision was necessary to restore order and governance in a state that had been in crisis for several months.”
TMSG concluded by praising President Tinubu for taking decisive action. “We believe that this six-month state of emergency will allow both parties to reflect on their actions and reconsider previous mediatory efforts they had previously rejected.”
As Rivers State now enters a period of intervention, political observers and citizens alike will be watching closely to see if the state can move past its political deadlock and return to stability.
