State Of Emergency Threat Forced Fubara To Kneel—Wike Emerges Victorious In Rivers Showdown

Columnist and political analyst Majeed Dahiru has asserted that the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State pressured the embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara into conceding, effectively handing victory to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Dahiru made this remark following a peace meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, which brought together President Bola Tinubu, Wike, Fubara, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Speaking on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Dahiru described the resolution of the Rivers crisis as a significant win for Wike, who he said had outmaneuvered Fubara.

“This is like scoring a hat-trick in football. Wike emerged the clear winner, and Fubara has now accepted his position. The turning point was undoubtedly the threat of a state of emergency,” Dahiru said.

He added, “That announcement forced Fubara to give in, shifting the balance of power squarely in Wike’s favour. This marks a rare moment in Nigerian politics where a political godfather defeats the governor he helped install. Apart from this, the only comparable case would be Tinubu’s political victory over former Lagos Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.”

Dahiru also criticized the declaration of the state of emergency, calling it unconstitutional and illegitimate.

“This action violates Nigeria’s constitution. Ideally, the situation should have been handled without undermining democratic institutions. A state of emergency should not involve dismantling an elected government,” he said.

He emphasized that neither Fubara nor Wike could be seen as heroes in the ongoing feud, noting that they are both products of the same political structure. He rejected the narrative that Rivers people resisted political godfatherism, stating that the public should not romanticize a conflict they had no role in.

“Let’s be honest: Fubara wasn’t elected solely by the will of the people—he was installed through heavy political backing. If votes were bought, then they don’t truly belong to the electorate,” Dahiru argued.

When asked if impeachment would have been a better approach, he responded, “From a legal standpoint, impeachment would have been more appropriate. But politically, this outcome may be less damaging for Fubara.”