Following a crisis in Rivers State triggered by a Supreme Court ruling—widely believed to be orchestrated by Nyesom Wike, whose significant sway over the judiciary has earned him an infamous reputation as Nigeria’s unofficial “judiciary head”—President Bola Tinubu has unilaterally declared a state of emergency, effectively suspending democratic governance.
In an ironic and troubling turn, Tinubu has replaced elected officials with retired military officer Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas. This decision resurrects the long-standing but dangerous notion—perpetuated by past military regimes—that when civilian leaders falter, only the military can restore order. Such a move undermines civilian leadership and reinforces the flawed belief that democracy must occasionally be “rescued” by those in uniform.
Notably, in May 2013, Tinubu himself criticized then-President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, calling it a dangerous attack on democracy and a ploy to manipulate the 2015 election.
At the time, he stated:
“The body language of the Jonathan administration leads any keen watcher of events to the unmistakable conclusion of the existence of a surreptitious but barely disguised intention to muzzle the elected governments of these states for what is clearly a display of unpardonable mediocrity and diabolic partisanship geared towards 2015.”
Now, as Tinubu declares a state of emergency in Rivers just two years before the 2027 elections—where he will seek re-election—the question naturally arises: Is this, too, a case of “unpardonable mediocrity and diabolic partisanship” aimed at securing political advantage in 2027? Or do the principles of democracy change depending on who is in power?
One must wonder if Tinubu has fully considered the consequences of his actions. He justifies suspending democracy in Rivers based on the Supreme Court’s claim that “there is no government in Rivers State.”
Yet, for millions of Nigerians struggling under his administration’s harsh economic policies, governance itself feels absent. If there is “no government in Nigeria” for them, does that mean the military should step in to restore order on a national scale?
