Tinubu Had Ulterior Motive Declaring State Of Emergency In Rivers – Activist Nwala Says, Explains Why (Video)

Chetam Nwala, the Nigerian activist and lawyer, has accused President Bola Tinubu of harboring ulterior motives prior to declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State earlier this year.

Nwala made this accusation on Tuesday during an interview on ‘The Morning Brief’, a programme on Channels Television.

He further alleged that the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State was purely political and not about stabilizing the state.

Recall that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in March this year, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and members of the state House of Assembly.

“You remember, I have always stated, and I will keep mentioning that the declaration of emergency was purely political. It was not about stabilizing the state at all.

“It was a president trying to make sure that ambition for 2027 is being protected within the body of Rivers State. And of course, we have seen what has happened to the governor.

“The governor has been hoodwinked. And we have seen the governor who came back like a wounded and a defeated lion. Having returned back, he has now defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to work with the president.

“This was all because there was a state of emergency. This was all because the President had a 2027 ambition. So he didn’t care whether the Rivers economy was dying. His interest was to make sure that the governor comes to his party which they succeeded,” he said.

The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State was purely political; it was not about stabilizing Rivers State at all.

— Chetam Nwala, Lawyer and Activist #CTVMorningBrief #CTVTweets pic.twitter.com/C2DuzxXnQd

— Channels Television (@channelstv) December 16, 2025