Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has alleged that the ongoing conflict between suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is centered around sharing state funds.
Speaking in an interview with DW Africa on Saturday, March 29, Amaechi, who also served as Minister of Transportation under the Buhari administration, criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to impose emergency rule in the state, calling it unconstitutional.
**”The dispute between the current Rivers governor and the FCT minister is about sharing money. If not, what exactly is the issue? Nigerians no longer question corruption. I haven’t seen anyone on the streets demanding answers. Can both of them come forward and tell the public what the real problem is?
Rivers State is currently the only state in Nigeria not experiencing democracy. What we have now is military rule.**
He further argued that President Tinubu acted outside constitutional provisions, stating:
“Section 188 of the Constitution clearly outlines how a governor can leave office—either by death, resignation, or impeachment. Nowhere does it say that a president can wake up one day and remove an elected governor. This undermines democracy.”
Amaechi also claimed that Tinubu’s interference in Rivers’ affairs was politically motivated, suggesting that the president sought to consolidate power ahead of the 2027 general election.
**”There are speculations that any governor who doesn’t align with the president could be removed. So, beyond the issue of money sharing, the Rivers crisis is also about 2027 politics.
If the president justifies the emergency rule by citing the pipeline explosion in Rivers State, what about other parts of the country facing serious insecurity? Shouldn’t the same rule apply to them?
Security is the president’s responsibility, not the governor’s. So why punish a governor who has done nothing wrong?”** he questioned.
