Olarewaju Criticizes Tinubu’s Decision in Rivers State, Draws Comparison to Obasanjo’s Era

Demola Olarewaju, an aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, appointing Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (retd.) as the state’s Sole Administrator after suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara for six months.

According to The Guardian, Olarewaju argued that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was able to remove governors without facing consequences because democracy was still in its early stages, and news dissemination was much slower at the time.

He questioned Tinubu’s competence, pointing to his handling of the economy as evidence that the President is not as strategic as many believe.

“Tinubu has driven more Nigerians into poverty than even his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari,” he claimed.

Olarewaju expressed shock at Tinubu’s decision to place a retired military officer in control of Rivers State over what he described as a political dispute, warning that such a move was extremely risky.

Comparison with Obasanjo’s Era

Reflecting on the political landscape 22 years ago, Olarewaju recalled the abduction of then-Governor Chris Ngige, who was held hostage for hours.

“It was Nigeria’s first democratic experiment since 1983, and social media wasn’t yet a thing; they could keep it hushed. What could happen under OBJ from ’99 to ’07 is impossible to replicate today,” he said.

He emphasized that Obasanjo could remove governors at will because he was “one of the boys”, implying that Tinubu’s attempt to do the same might backfire due to modern political scrutiny and a more active media landscape.

Olarewaju also suggested that Tinubu might have ignored lessons from history, questioning whether he had ever read the speech from Nigeria’s first coup attempt, which serves as a warning against military interference in governance.

In conclusion, he warned that Tinubu’s actions could spark unintended consequences, as Nigeria’s political climate and public awareness have evolved significantly since Obasanjo’s time.