The New Nigeria Peoples Party has addressed concerns over the involvement of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos, NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, dismissed suggestions that Wike should be held responsible for every political decision affecting the state. He questioned why Wike, who is not in charge of law enforcement or the judiciary, was being blamed for the situation.
“Wike is not the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General of the Federation, or the Chief Judge of Nigeria. If our institutions are not fulfilling their statutory roles, why place all the blame on him?” he asked.
Major also cautioned opposition parties to engage in constructive criticism instead of rejecting government policies outright. “Opposition is crucial in a democracy, but it must be geared towards better governance, not just dismissing every decision the government makes as wrong. If opposition is merely about rejection without offering alternatives, then something is fundamentally flawed,” he said.
The NNPP Chairman voiced his support for President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a necessary step to restore order and ensure the safety of residents. He defended the decision, stating that no responsible government would allow a crisis to spiral out of control without taking decisive action.
“President Tinubu is the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria, and the intelligence available to him may not be within public reach. The government in Rivers was suspended, and no one can truly predict what would have happened if the situation had been left unchecked,” Major explained.
He also criticized political leaders who allowed the crisis to escalate before raising their concerns, emphasizing that leadership often requires difficult decisions. He cited the fuel subsidy removal as another example of a tough decision that past administrations had avoided.
“Leadership requires making difficult decisions. This was also the case with the fuel subsidy removal—a choice no previous administration was willing to make. Whether right or wrong, Tinubu took that step, and we are gradually navigating our way forward,” Major said.
Finally, Major underscored that the security situation in Rivers was unacceptable and posed a serious threat to lives and property. He urged the people of Rivers to understand that the temporary imposition of emergency rule was in their best interest.
“Six months or less of emergency rule is meant to stabilize the state and uphold democracy. Rivers people should be streetwise and not allow personal interests to cloud their judgment,” he advised.