Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and other political leaders in the state to embrace peace and reconciliation in the aftermath of the recently lifted emergency rule.
In a statement released via his official X handle on Thursday, Mr. Obi described the six-month state of emergency imposed on Rivers State as a “constitutional breach” that undermined Nigeria’s democratic order. He maintained that the measure, initially declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on 18 March 2025 pursuant to Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, did not satisfy the constitutional threshold, which permits such extraordinary powers only in cases of grave threats to public safety or national security.
President Tinubu had suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, Dr. Ngozi Odu, and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.) as Sole Administrator. The rule was lifted on Wednesday following what the President described as “a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding.”
Reacting, Mr. Obi urged all political gladiators in Rivers State to reflect on the lessons from the impasse:
“I just hope that some lessons were learned by all the gladiators in the Rivers State impasse. Great minds remind us that the only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing. A true leader is the one who admits his or her mistakes, is smart enough to learn from them, and is strong enough to correct them.”
He further congratulated the people of Rivers State for their endurance throughout the crisis and encouraged political actors to prioritize dialogue and stability over confrontation.
The Rivers crisis originated from a protracted power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The feud escalated into legislative defections, parallel assemblies, and allegations of corruption, ultimately prompting the federal intervention.
Mr. Obi concluded his remarks with a message of optimism:
“The real mistake is the one where we end up learning nothing. Be assured that a new Nigeria is possible and inevitable.”#newsafro_
