Reports Suggest President Tinubu Regrets Declaring Emergency in Rivers State Amid Political Revelations

Recent reports indicate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu may be reconsidering his decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State following revelations about the underlying motives of the political crisis. Sources close to the presidency claim Tinubu was “stunned and deeply troubled” after suspended Governor Sim Fubara disclosed details of his rift with former Governor Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to insiders, Fubara revealed that Wike’s push for his impeachment stems not only from a desire to control the state’s resources but also from Fubara’s refusal to elevate the *Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI)*—a political group linked to Wike—to a national platform. The GDI was reportedly intended to serve as a launchpad for Wike’s alleged 2027 presidential ambitions.

The tensions escalated after Wike openly admitted in a recent interview, *“What I wanted was the impeachment of the governor,”* while reportedly dismissing Tinubu’s influence with the remark, *“Who is Tinubu without me?”*

Presidential sources claim Tinubu, caught off guard by these revelations, now regrets intervening in the crisis. The declaration of a state of emergency, initially framed as a move to stabilize the state, has drawn criticism as politically motivated. Observers suggest the presidency is now scrambling to reassess its strategy amid fears of escalating fallout.

Neither the Presidency nor Wike’s camp has issued an official statement, but the disclosures have intensified scrutiny of the power struggle within Rivers State and its implications for Nigeria’s broader political landscape.