State of emergency in Rivers misplaced priority, NUJ ex-president faults Tinubu

A former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lanre Ogundipe, on Wednesday, faulted the state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State.
In a statement made available to journalists, Ogundipe said the step was not the best solution to the crisis in the state.
Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in the state, suspended the governor and members of the state House of Assembly, and subsequently nominated Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state.
Ogundipe, in his reaction, declared the proclamation a misplaced priority.
He maintained that the action was not in the best interest of the country.
“State of emergency! Mr. President, should we not count the cost before a proclamation was tinkered? It is not the best solution in the circumstances. The situation is best resolved politically, with you as the President wielding the big stick and whipping the combatants in the imbroglio into line without fear or favour.
“Mr. President, your courage and boldness this time around are misplaced. What happened? Please do not dance to the tune of your government adversaries with this declaration. It’s two steps backwards. I am sure you are aware that Rivers State is in the Niger Delta region; dancing to the gallery would easily plunge the nation’s economy into further crisis.
“Escalation in the political crisis and ongoing debacle in Rivers State will push and erase the gains of this administration if you—Mr. President—fail to address the issues at stake with the courage and boldness you have been noted for over the years.
“For now, the nation cannot afford too many crises on its hands. Areas that need or require such a declaration for a state of emergency are the northern parts of the country, where thousands of Nigerian soldiers are still battling for their lives to save the nation against bandits, kidnappers, and insurgencies.
“If democracy is suspended in a state, with you, who is regarded as a hero of democracy—what message is being sent to those we accuse of incursions? A minister in your cabinet who is a key player in the crisis should not be allowed to stay in office any longer. He must be suspended and relieved of his office functions as well.
“It is with grave concern that I plead for a listening ear for a reversion of this proclamation. The Fourth Republic must not go the way of Wild! Wild West. The crisis started like this in 1962 before it snowballed,” he warned.