The founder of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and leader of the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has come forward with strong remarks following the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Uwazuruike has defended the former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, while blaming the state’s current governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for the political crisis that led to the state of emergency.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Uwazuruike argued that Fubara’s actions were the main cause of the political turmoil in Rivers State, and he claimed that the crisis could have been avoided if Fubara had adhered to his earlier agreements with Wike, who is now Nigeria’s Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Uwazuruike’s defense of Wike and criticism of Fubara stem from a belief that Fubara, who was elected governor of Rivers State, failed to honor his obligations to Wike. The leader of MASSOB and BIM suggested that Fubara’s political rise was largely due to Wike’s support, and by not respecting the agreement they had, Fubara triggered the series of events that led to his downfall.
“Whoever advised Fubara to fight Wike, who made him governor, did not advise him well,” Uwazuruike wrote. He went on to suggest that Fubara could have avoided the current crisis if he had simply honored his commitments. “If you know you are a politician and you are approached to do a dirty job which your conscience doesn’t want you to do at that moment, say ‘I won’t do it’ or ‘I can’t do it,’ that makes you a gentleman,” he added.
Uwazuruike also stressed that Fubara’s refusal to listen to advice from experienced political figures further contributed to the crisis in Rivers State. He pointed specifically to the counsel of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who had warned Fubara about the consequences of his actions. According to Uwazuruike, had Fubara listened to Fayose and others, the ongoing conflict could have been avoided altogether.
“If Fubara had listened to the counsel of some people like Fayose, he would not have fallen into this temptation,” Uwazuruike said, suggesting that the situation could have been avoided if Fubara had been more open to advice from seasoned politicians.
Uwazuruike’s main argument revolves around the issue of trust and broken promises in Nigerian politics. He argued that Fubara’s rise to power was not just due to the votes of the people of Rivers State, but also because of the support and backing he received from Wike. In this light, Uwazuruike stressed that Fubara’s failure to keep his part of the agreement with Wike, and his subsequent actions, led to the current political turmoil.
“All of these things happening in Rivers State could have been avoided if one party had kept his own part of the promise,” Uwazuruike said. “This is very common in Southeast and South South. When somebody brings you from obscurity and makes you a governor, and at the end of the day, you refuse to keep your own part of the bargain, it is not good.”
Uwazuruike also criticized the tendency in Nigerian politics for individuals to forget the people who helped them rise to power. He pointed out that without Wike’s backing, Fubara would not have had the chance to be governor. He further emphasized that politicians often forget the support they received in favor of personal ambitions, which he believes is unjust.
“You want to play a card and you have forgotten that as a civil servant, the highest you could go is becoming the permanent secretary. Somebody brought you out and made you the governor, and you turned around to make him a bad guy; it is unjust,” Uwazuruike remarked.
In his critique of Nigerian politics, Uwazuruike did not hold back his frustrations with the state of governance in the country. He argued that corruption is widespread, and that no governor in Nigeria is truly innocent of stealing state funds. According to Uwazuruike, Wike should not be singled out as the only corrupt politician, as all Nigerian governors are similarly guilty of mismanaging public funds.
“There is no better governor in Nigeria who doesn’t steal money because the country is corrupt,” Uwazuruike said. “Wike is not the only devil in Nigerian politics; all the other governors are devils and corrupt. No one should play the victim card.”
Uwazuruike’s comments come at a time when Rivers State is in a state of political crisis. President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state has been met with mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a necessary step to restore order, while others see it as politically motivated. The situation escalated after a series of allegations, including accusations of political violence and the destruction of state infrastructure. Uwazuruike’s remarks add to the ongoing debate about the causes of the crisis and the appropriate response.
The state of emergency declared by President Tinubu in Rivers State is a response to increasing political unrest and violence that has plagued the region in recent months. The declaration has given the federal government the authority to take direct control of security matters in the state, in a bid to restore order and prevent further destruction of public and private property.
While the government defends the state of emergency as necessary to protect national interests, including the safety of citizens and critical infrastructure, many critics have accused the move of being politically motivated. Some believe the declaration is part of a larger effort to weaken the influence of certain political figures in Rivers State, including Wike, who has long been a key player in Nigerian politics.
The timing of the state of emergency is also seen by some as a direct response to political maneuvering within Rivers State. Fubara’s removal from office, and the circumstances surrounding it, have raised questions about the state’s political dynamics. Uwazuruike’s comments appear to suggest that Fubara’s failure to honor agreements and his alleged political missteps played a major role in the instability that led to the state of emergency.
