Rivers Meltdown: Akande Urges Tinubu To Rise Above Obasanjo’s Mistakes

Former Presidential Aide Cautions Tinubu Against Following Obasanjo’s Precedent in Rivers CrisisFormer Presidential Aide Cautions Tinubu Against Following Obasanjo’s Precedent in Rivers Crisis....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Former presidential spokesperson, Laolu Akande, has expressed concern over comparisons between President Bola Tinubu’s potential declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and similar actions taken by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Plateau and Ekiti States. He warned against compromising governance standards.

According to reports, Akande—who served under former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo—voiced his concerns during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, April 11, 2025. He cautioned that it would be deeply disappointing if Tinubu performs worse than Obasanjo in managing political crises.

“I understand people are saying Obasanjo did worse, but Tinubu and Obasanjo have entirely different political legacies in Nigeria. It would be truly disappointing if Tinubu ends up doing worse,” Akande remarked.

Commenting on the controversial appointment of sole administrators for local government areas in Rivers State by the state’s caretaker head, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), Akande noted that President Tinubu might not have been directly involved in the decision.

He explained the inner workings of the presidency, emphasizing that many decisions are often executed in the President’s name without his direct knowledge or approval.

“Let me clarify how power dynamics work within government,” he said. “A lot of actions are carried out in the President’s name, though he might not have instigated them. Sometimes, the President chooses to look the other way, or—if he genuinely disapproves—he may step in to reverse them.”

Responding to concerns about the President’s silence being perceived as endorsement, Akande added: “The President has been away on a retreat in France. Let’s see how he responds when he returns. There’s growing public pressure, and I know some of his close allies have advised against declaring a state of emergency. I believe he is currently evaluating the situation carefully.”