Security, Economy Need Emergency, Not Rivers – Ndume Tells Tinubu

Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to shift focus from Rivers State and instead declare a state of emergency on Nigeria’s worsening security and economic challenges.

Speaking on Channels Television’s *Politics Daily*, Ndume expressed dismay over the President’s recent action concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, describing it as misplaced.

“Let the President forget about everything and concentrate on three things – security, welfare of citizens and the economy,” Ndume said. “His attention should go there as number one, then he should create a state of emergency in those areas.”

While affirming his democratic values, the Senator criticized the President’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months, calling it a wrong move.

In a nationwide address on March 18, President Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to declare a state of emergency in Rivers and appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to oversee the state’s affairs for the initial six months.

Ndume, however, believes the crisis could have been resolved through dialogue, not drastic action.

“I feel that the President would have worked seriously on bringing them (together) and solving the problem than (declaring a state of emergency). Call them, seat them down and say ‘go and sort your problem,’” he said.

He also dismissed claims that the political actors in Rivers ignored Tinubu’s earlier interventions.

“How can you ignore the President? When he removed them now, did they ignore the removal?” Ndume asked.

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