Suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has sharply criticized the Nigeria Police for what he described as a biased crackdown on protesters opposing the declaration of emergency rule in the state.
The criticism follows dual protests in different parts of Rivers State, with opposing groups voicing their views on the controversial state of emergency and the recent suspension of Fubara, his deputy, and the entire State House of Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.
In Port Harcourt, a group known as Rivers Women for Peace and Good Governance marched in support of the emergency rule, declaring it constitutional.
They praised Tinubu and the appointed sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.), saying his leadership had restored peace.
“We are grateful and pleased with it and living well with it,” said protest leader Mrs. Inime Aguma. “Our democratic structure was decimated. The House of Assembly was burnt down and demolished with taxpayers’ money. That is an aberration.”
However, in Ahoada East, women under the banner Rivers Women Unite for Sim were dispersed with teargas as they called for Fubara’s reinstatement. “Sim is our hope. We say bring back our governor,” one protester said tearfully in a viral video. “We say no to emergency rule in Rivers State.”
Fubara’s Special Adviser on Electronic Media, Jerry Omatsogunwa, condemned the police’s unequal response: “It is like the police have two standards for the same activity. The women in Ahoada were teargassed while those supporting illegality in Port Harcourt were protected.”
Omatsogunwa hailed the Ahoada protesters as “heroes of democracy,” and accused the sole administrator of pursuing a personal agenda, suggesting “he is nursing a governorship ambition in Cross River State.”
The state has been embroiled in escalating political tension after Tinubu’s emergency rule directive, which has now sparked a legal challenge at the Supreme Court from 11 PDP governors.
They argue the President lacks the constitutional power to suspend elected officials and install a sole administrator.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has begun drafting a defense on behalf of the President in response to the suit.