In a strongly worded statement, former presidential aide, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Expressing deep concern, Ojudu questioned the rationale behind the decision, suggesting that it could plunge the country into an economic and political crisis. He described the move as reckless and unnecessary, warning that it could trigger renewed instability in the Niger Delta region, a development that has historically hurt Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy.
Ojudu, in his statement, accused the President’s advisers of leading him down a dangerous path.
“Who advised the President to take this course of action? Whoever it is, they are certainly not a friend of his administration, nor do they have the best interests of Nigeria at heart,” he stated.
The senator argued that the crisis in Rivers is a political dispute that requires dialogue, not military intervention. He urged the President to personally intervene by mediating between the warring political factions rather than escalating the conflict.
Highlighting the economic risks, Ojudu recalled how previous crises in the Niger Delta region pushed Nigeria into recession under former President Muhammadu Buhari. He warned that a similar outcome could occur if the conflict in Rivers spirals out of control.
“At one point, Nigeria’s oil production collapsed to below 400,000 barrels per day from 2.5 million barrels per day due to political mismanagement. It took years of painstaking effort to stabilize the region and restore production. This decision threatens to undo all that progress,” he lamented.
Ojudu cautioned that renewed political instability could lead to:
Disruptions in oil production, Nigeria’s primary source of revenue;
Increased pipeline sabotage and illegal bunkering; and
Loss of investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil sector.
“The global oil market is unforgiving. Investors do not wait for internal political conflicts to be resolved. They simply take their capital elsewhere,” he warned.
The former senator further criticized the misallocation of national security resources, arguing that Nigeria’s military is already overstretched combating insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping in the North East, North West, and North Central regions.
“These are the real emergencies. These are the crises that demand decisive leadership,” he declared.
He emphasized that a state of emergency in Rivers would only serve to divert security forces from more pressing threats, thereby weakening the country’s overall security.
Ojudu concluded by calling on President Tinubu to reconsider the decision, warning of the potential political, economic, and security consequences.
“A state of emergency is not a strategy, it is an admission of failure. There are far more effective, far less destructive ways to handle this situation,” he advised.
The Presidency is yet to respond to Ojudu’s concerns, but political analysts predict that this decision if confirmed could spark a major political crisis.
