A former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Prince Lanre Ogundipe has stated that the state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State is not the best solution to tackle the crisis in the state.

Ogundipe said this via a statement made available to DAILY POST on Wednesday.

Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in the state, suspended the governor and members of state House of Assembly and subsequently nominated Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state. https://dailypost.ng/2025/03/18/rivers-crisis-tinubu-declares-state-of-emergency-suspends-fubara-for-six-months/

Ogundipe in his reaction, declared the proclamation as a misplaced priority.

He maintained that the action was not in the best interest of the country.

“State of emergency! Mr. President should we not count the cost before a proclamation was tinkered? It is not the best solution in the circumstance. The situation is best resolved politically with you as the President wielding the big stick and weep the combatants in the imbroglio to line without fear or favour.

“Mr. President, your courage and boldness this time around is misplaced. What happened? Please do not dance to tune of your government adversaries with this declaration. Its two steps backwards. I am sure you aware Rivers state in the Niger-Delta region, dancing to the gallery would easily plunge the nation’s economy into further crisis economically.

“Escalation in the political crisis on going debacle in Rivers State will push and erase the gains of this administration if you-Mr. President failed to address the issues at stake with the courage and boldness you are noted with over years.

“For now, the nation cannot afford to many crisis in its hands, areas that needs, or requires such declaration for State of Emergency are Northern parts of the county where thousands of Nigerian soldiers are still battling for their lives to save the nation’s against, bandits, kidnappers and insurgencies.

“If democracy is suspended in a state, with you who is regarded as hero of democracy – what message is being sent to those we accused of incursions? A minister in your cabinet who is a key player in the crisis should not be allowed to stay in office any longer. He must be suspended and relieved of his office functions as well.

“It is with grave concern that I plead for a listening ears for a reversion of this proclamation The fourth republic must not go the way of Wild! Wild West. The crisis started like this in 1962 before it snow-balled,” he cautioned.

Rivers: State of emergency a misplaced priority – NUJ ex-president