Ibadan- based business mogul and public affairs analyst, Alhaji Sufianu Kazeem on Tuesday said President Bola Tinubu’s quick intervention through the declaration of a state of emergency prevented the Rivers state crisis from degenerating into uncontrollable violence.
Alhaji Kazeem, an ally of the winner of June 1993 presidential election, the late Chief MKO Abiola, stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan.
The elder statesman stressed that the regrouping of opposition leaders against the state of emergency could be best described as an invitation to another military rule, adding that Rivers state peace and decorum at this time has justified President Tinubu’s resolve, which makes him to deserve commendation, not condemnation and campaign of calumny..
According to him, the impeachment threats might have spurred attacks on lawmakers by the governor’s supporters, while militants in the creeks primed to sabotage critical oil infrastructure could have plunged Nigeria’s oil production back to pre 2023 lows.
Alhaji Kazeem pointed out that it was President Tinubu’s intervention that made “Rivers state to breathe again,” adding that the political crisis between the Rivers state Assembly and Governor Siminalayi Fubara could have continued and degenerated into violence if not for the quick intervention of President Tinubu.
He frowned at some critics arguing that the crisis in Rivers State did not yet warrant emergency rule, saying Tinubu waiting for the breakdown of law and order in Rivers state to escalate into anarchy before acting is like withholding firefighters until a house burns to ashes.
“Responsible leader like President Tinubu, who swore an oath to protect the constitution and corporate existence of the country, cannot fail to act when a constituent part of the Federation is careering towards the precipice”, he said.
Alhaji Kazeem added: “We all know that Wike brought Fubara from level 12 as a civil servant in the state to level 17 to made him Accountant General of Rivers State, and eventually made him a governor. Where are Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and El-Rufai in all these?
“Few months ago, the federal government began operations at the Port Harcourt refinery, and now some people want to destroy it. Do you expect the President to just keep quiet?”
The elder statesman stressed that it was the failure of leaders of thought in Niger/Delta region to act during the crisis in Rivers state that prompted the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.
Praising the Attorney General of the federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for doing the right thing at the right time, the elder statesman said Nigeria cannot go back to its dark days again hence the steps taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.