Yemi Olakitan
Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s recent press statement, delivered in the wake of President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, is a study in measured rhetoric under pressure. The speech, while aimed at reassuring a fractious constituency, also reveals the deep-seated political challenges facing the state.
Fubara’s address begins with a solemn reminder of his constitutional oath and commitment to the people. By emphasizing that his actions have been guided by duty and legal mandate, he seeks to position himself as a principled leader—a stabilizing force amid chaos. This focus on constitutional order and the rule of law is particularly strategic. It not only reinforces his legitimacy at a time when executive actions are under intense scrutiny but also frames his subsequent decisions (from reinstating commissioners to executing Supreme Court directives) as necessary measures for peace and continuity rather than politically motivated maneuvers.
The speech subtly reveals the governor’s frustration with local political dynamics, notably the Rivers State House of Assembly. Fubara attributes the challenges in achieving genuine progress to legislative obstruction. While his narrative paints a picture of a determined leader pushing through obstacles for the greater good, it simultaneously sidesteps any detailed accountability for the breakdown in dialogue.
Critics might argue that this deflection not only minimizes the role of the assembly but also risks oversimplifying complex institutional impasses that require collaborative solutions. By framing the legislative resistance as an external impediment, Fubara strengthens his image as the sole guardian of stability, even as he potentially deepens the rift within the state’s governance structure.Throughout his address, Fubara reassures his audience of the state’s ongoing safety and progress. His insistence that “Rivers State is safe, secure, and peaceful under our watch” is designed to calm public fears.
However, beneath this assurance lies a more calculated political message. The governor’s rapid implementation of judicial decisions and his willingness to abide by presidential directives seem aimed at preempting any allegations of personal ambition or defiance. In doing so, he walks a tightrope between genuine crisis management and the need to preserve his political capital amid a backdrop of internal dissent and a national emergency.
Fubara’s speech reflects a broader trend in contemporary Nigerian politics, where leaders often rely on legalistic justifications to navigate turbulent political landscapes. His narrative of steadfast adherence to legal protocols and constitutional mandates is not just a defense of his past actions—it’s a blueprint for how he intends to govern during this period of uncertainty, even without the state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
By invoking a shared responsibility with the people (“I urge all Rivers people to remain peaceful and law-abiding”), he also attempts to transfer the burden of maintaining stability onto his constituents, thereby diffusing some of the pressure from his own leadership decisions.Governor Fubara’s address, delivered at a critical juncture, is both a call for calm and a subtle political maneuver. It reassures supporters of his commitment to peace and stability while hinting at underlying tensions with institutional actors in Rivers State.
Whether viewed as a masterclass in crisis communication or as calculated political posturing, the speech unmistakably lays the groundwork for the challenges ahead. In an environment where legal mandates and executive actions are in constant interplay, Fubara’s words serve as both a defense of his record and a strategic appeal for unity amidst division.
