By Luminous Jannamike, ABUJA
This week, President Bola Tinubu addressed the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at the State House, touting the rule of law as his fix for the Rivers State crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. His plea comes as Nigeria’s judiciary stumbles—plagued by corruption, conflicting rulings, and political influence—raising doubts about the courts the government champions.
Voices from Abuja and beyond weighed in, blending hope with skepticism.
However, President Tinubu stood firm: “I am here by the grace of God, appreciating your support, prayers, and concern. I cannot complain. I campaigned for this position and begged for the job. I must do it with all my heart, whatever it takes.
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“I will make sure we achieve our promises and goals. Nigeria is a great country. To some cabinet members here, from outside looking in and inside looking out, we have been doing our best to give Nigeria a re-bounce, a reset, and a recalibration of the economic fortune.
“Yes, Niger Delta is the goose that lays the golden egg. We must care for the goose; otherwise, we lose the golden egg.
“I got your signal and your concern, particularly on Rivers State. I have been on the issue for quite some time. I foresaw the crisis festering for too long before I intervened. We reached an agreement, a written agreement, and both parties signed.
“It is sad we find ourselves in this situation today. This is a nation with a rule of law. I should not be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria if there is no rule of law.
“I have total confidence in our judiciary. Now, the Supreme Court has spoken—that is it.”
He referenced a signed agreement to end the crisis, blaming conflicting court rulings and ‘misleading advice’ to Fubara for its collapse, urging PANDEF to counsel the governor for peace.
The President continued, “Please go back home and help implement the court rulings within the shortest possible time. I am putting the ball in your court. Help! Privately and openly intervene and counsel the governor. Pursue the path of peace and stability.
“Go back home and take charge of peace. If you need me, let me know. I have given the situation enough time and enough consideration. We cannot fall back, and we will not. The people of Rivers State will not suffer because of democracy. We worked together on it. They will not suffer. They must be protected.
“We cannot achieve Eldorado in one day. But we are on the path to it. We will succeed by the grace of God Almighty. We are resetting the economy, and it looks far better. We have funds for our children in college. Our medical colleges are also getting equipped.
“The ongoing coastal road project will create new economic benefits for the Niger Delta and the country. We are already working with international companies to build ports in the Niger Delta States.
“I have seen what you have tolerated in the region. Community development is very close to my heart. The leader of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, is doing a great job and should be encouraged to do more. He is your son. We are all proud of him.
“Yes, there are lots of misadventurers around Nigeria on democracy. We will continue to work on preserving the integrity and character of our legislators. I sincerely thank you for bringing up those issues.”
However. here are what Nigerians are saying in separate responses:
Agreement was a death warrant – Rufai Oseni
Oseni branded Tinubu’s mediation a sham, exposing judicial flaws that fuel skepticism. He blasted: “”I disagree with President Tinubu. The so-called agreement that President Tinubu suggested Fubara should sign was effectively a death warrant. It is the same death warrant they are attempting to execute now. Initially, the main point of contention was impeachment. Then, the lawmakers defected in order to prepare everything. That agreement was not a safeguard against impeachment; rather, it was to ‘cede all powers to the lawmakers’, who would then return to undermine Fubara. Many people opposed this agreement, believing it would ultimately harm him.
“Furthermore, the circumstances under which he signed were perceived by many as coercive; it was not a viable solution. We then endured the lengthy process of the courts, with numerous cases still pending in relation to the federal high court’s determination regarding the lawmakers’ fate. I have also thoroughly reviewed the Supreme Court judgment. While we must respect the rule of law, we must also acknowledge the heavy-handedness of these lawmakers. The governor wrote a letter, but they rebuffed him. The APC is in turmoil, with Tony Okocha issuing a statement urging them to proceed with impeachment. Meanwhile, Emeka Beke, another factional APC chairman in Rivers State, advised against listening to Okocha.
“There are no guarantees that these lawmakers, once they assert their authority, will refrain from targeting Fubara. This is fundamentally a power struggle, and we know their affiliations. This is why the people are outraged; the Niger Delta community is voicing their concerns. Ankio Briggs visited recently, and the situation is reminiscent of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It’s not that Ukraine does not want peace, but we are asking: where are the assurances? Where are the ironclad guarantees that Russia will not invade again? They have placed the ball in Russia’s court, and we will see how they respond. This is the same Russia that violated the Minsk agreement, just as the current situation in Rivers mirrors past betrayals. Once these lawmakers consolidate their power, they will undoubtedly target Fubara, and this has always been the concern, even among the elders in Rivers.”
Tinubu Focused Only on Fubara –
Reuben Abati, Journalist
Abati praised Tinubu’s legal stance but flags judicial bias as a reform snag. He said, “President Tinubu met with leaders from the Niger Delta region while breaking his fast, alongside governors, military chiefs, political leaders, and representatives from the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). During this meeting, he made several statements regarding River State that I would like to examine.
“First, he spoke about the importance of adherence to the rule of law. We cannot fault him on that; respecting the rule of law is essential. He emphasised that the decisions made by the courts, particularly the Supreme Court, should be upheld, asserting the sanctity of the rule of law. In this context, we hope that President Tinubu’s gesture signifies his administration’s commitment to the rule of law.
“What does the rule of law entail in this case? The Supreme Court has ruled on the River State matter, stating that the local government elections conducted by Governor Fubara on 20 March 2024 were invalid, as was the budget presentation made to a former member of the River State House of Assembly, led by Honourable Jombo.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court ruled that the 27-member Pro-Wike faction of the River State House of Assembly has not lost their seats. Governor Fubara had previously indicated his intention to abide by the Supreme Court’s decision and reiterated this point yesterday, emphasising that it is in the interest of peace in the state.
“However, the president advised him to be humble and to ‘stoop to conquer’. This phrase is particularly instructive; as a former literature lecturer, I recall teaching a course titled ‘Shakespeare and His Contemporaries’. The phrase ‘stoop to conquer’ originates from Oliver Goldsmith, during the reign of King George III, suggesting that one can achieve victory by adopting a humble approach. While this is a well-known literary notion, my concern is that President Tinubu seems to have focused solely on Fubara. What about his own minister, Wike, who is reported to be a principal source of the crisis in River State? From what I’ve read, the president did not address the role of his minister, Nyesom Wike, although Chief Ankio-Briggs raised this issue, urging the president to question Minister Wike, asserting that a former governor should not be controlling affairs in River State—a significant concern.
“At that same occasion, members of the Rivers Elders Forum, led by Chief Rufus Ada-George, a former governor of the state, expressed the need for all parties to set aside their differences in the interest of Rivers State, a sentiment I also support. However, there are factions that do not wish for peace. One group, led by Tony Okocha, who describes himself as the APC’s state chairman, and another called the Sim Worldwide Group or whatever they call themselves, warned that any attempt to impeach Fubara would lead to chaos in the state. This should be the focus of our discussion: who are these individuals intent on causing chaos? Who insists that Fubara must be impeached, even after he has submitted to the will of the political elite? Godfatherism remains a major challenge in Nigerian politics, and it appears that Minister Wike has had his way, with anti-Fubara forces succeeding, and President Tinubu supporting that coalition.
“The critical question is whether we all desire peace and stability in River State. The people who have suffered the most are the citizens of River State. Without federal government allocations, there has been little development, despite Fubara’s efforts to inaugurate various initiatives. For how long can he sustain this? This is the crux of the issue in River State, and I hope that reason will prevail in the end.”
It’s Time for Action Now – Mike Ozekhome, SAN
Ozekhome backed Tinubu’s judicial trust but presses for reform to ensure compliance. He said, “Tinubu’s call for rule of law in Rivers is timely. The judiciary has spoken; now it’s time for action to ensure all parties respect the Supreme Court’s verdict.
“The President’s revelation of a signed agreement shows his effort, but peace hinges on compliance, not just words.”
Conflicting Orders Undermine Tinubu – Chukwudi Okeke, Legal Analyst
Okeke tied judicial chaos to reform delays, undercutting Tinubu’s plan.
“Tinubu’s faith in the judiciary is commendable, but conflicting court orders in Rivers show the system’s flaws. He must go beyond words and ensure the Supreme Court’s ruling isn’t mocked,” Okeke argued.
Lip Service Won’t Work – Kunle Olusegun Adebiyi, Barrister
Adebiyi slammed judicial enforcement gaps as a reform hurdle. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s rule of law talk is good, but Amaewhule’s faction barring Fubara from the Assembly hours after shows it’s lip service unless enforced,” he snapped.
Wike Must Be Called Out – Annkio Briggs, Activist
Briggs linked Wike’s defiance to a judiciary needing an overhaul. She fumed, “The President’s mediation failed before because Wike didn’t honor it. Telling PANDEF to counsel Fubara alone is one-sided and won’t solve anything. Tinubu knows Rivers is the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy; he should stop playing neutral and call Wike to order.”
Rivers Needs Direct Action – Blessing Akinlosotu, Executive Director, National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN)
Akinlosotu urged Tinubu to fix judicial rot for Rivers’ peace. “We welcome Tinubu’s focus on peace and the judiciary, but delegating to PANDEF isn’t enough. Rivers needs his direct hand to stop this madness,” Akinlosotu insisted.
Enforcement Is Missing Link – Tamuno George Sokari, Spokesperson, Niger Delta People’s Advocacy Group
Sokari saw judicial weakness as a reform stumbling block. “Tinubu’s ‘rule of law’ talk is hollow when Amaewhule’s faction blocks Fubara from the Assembly. Where’s the enforcement? Rivers is bleeding!” Sokari shouted.
Wike’s Defiance Undermines Trust – Fatima Mohammed, Civil Rights Advocate
Mohammed blamed judicial capture for doubts in Tinubu’s approach.“Tinubu mediated before, and it failed. Why should we trust this ‘go counsel Fubara’ line when Wike’s camp keeps defying him?” she demanded.
Peace Needs More Than Words – Archbishop Israel Usoro, Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South-South Zone
Usoro sought a stronger judiciary to bolster Tinubu’s peace plea. “We commend President Tinubu for urging peace and upholding the judiciary, but we urge him to match his words with action. Rivers’ people deserve peace, not platitudes,” he said.
Wike Mocks Godly Law – Samuel Chijindu Obi, Pastor
Obi tied judicial reform to upholding divine justice.
“Tinubu’s call for law is godly, but Wike’s camp mocks it by barring Fubara. Clergy must pray and speak louder for justice,” Obi preached.
Peace Requires Real Strength – John Ogunleye, Reverend
Ogunleye demanded judicial strength for true peace.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, says the Bible. Tinubu’s effort is good, but peace won’t come until he stops the Assembly’s lawlessness,” Ogunleye intoned.
Tinubu’s Diplomacy Lacks True Grit – Aminu Yusuf Bello, Social Critic
Bello faulted judicial frailty for weakening Tinubu’s diplomacy. “Diplomacy without action is weakness. Rivers needs a leader, not a referee,” Bello asserted.
Stability Hangs in Balance – Chinedu Ezidiegwu, Social Commentator
Meanwhile, Ezidiegwu sidestepped judicial woes, lauding Tinubu’s tact. “President Tinubu’s diplomacy is spot on. He’s trying to keep Rivers stable without picking sides,” Okonkwo countered.
In Abuja, YouTuber Tunde Adeyemi, 27, chimed in: “My viewers crave peace, not promises. Tinubu says ‘rule of law,’ but Wike’s crew still blocks Fubara—where’s the balance?” he asked, filming his latest take near the Federal Secretariat Complex.
Judicial reform in Nigeria staggers under heavy burdens: corruption scandals, and a 200,000-case backlog, per a 2023 Nigerian Bar Association report. Rivers’ clashing rulings — federal courts versus the Supreme Court — expose a system where power often trumps principle.
Tinubu’s promise, ‘The people of Rivers State will not suffer because of democracy,’ wanes when Wike’s allies act unchecked. The President’s imagery—’Yes, Niger Delta is the goose that lays the golden egg’—falters if the judiciary, its guardian, remains a fractured shell. For now, Rivers waits, and Nigeria’s rule of law yearns for a reformer’s resolve.
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