The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has addressed concerns over the role of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike in the crisis engulfing Rivers State which culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu.
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major dismissed the notion that Wike should be held responsible for every political decision affecting Rivers.
“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 questioned.
He also cautioned opposition parties to engage in constructive criticism rather than outright rejection of government policies.
“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,” Major said.
The NNPP Chairman also threw his weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as a necessary step to restore order and protect residents.
Dr Agbo defended the decision, stating that no responsible government would allow a crisis to spiral out of control before 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 criticized some political leaders who, instead of intervening early, allowed the crisis to escalate before voicing their concerns.
“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,” he added.
Major emphasized that the security situation in Rivers was unacceptable, posing a serious threat to lives and property. He urged residents to recognize 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.