Tinubu's Decision To Declare Emergency In Rivers: Tam-George Speaks Out

Former Commissioner Austin Tam-George Slams Tinubu’s Emergency Move

Naija News reported that Austin Tam-George, the former Rivers State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State. In this bold move, Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly. This dramatic action has sent shockwaves across the political landscape, sparking reactions from opposition parties and key political figures such as Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

In an exclusive interview with Arise News, Tam-George—who served under the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike—accused the President of playing favorites and favoring Wike amidst the ongoing political turbulence in the state. Tam-George argued that Wike and his allies were actively working to destabilize the state, creating the perfect storm for the declaration of an emergency.

Behind the Scenes: Wike's Role in the Crisis

During the interview, Tam-George expressed his disappointment with the President’s decision, stating, “I’m really disappointed in the President’s speech, but not totally surprised. If you’ve been paying attention to what’s been happening in Rivers State over the past year, this doesn’t come as a shock. Much of last year, the Nyesom Wike group has been tirelessly working to destabilize the state, deliberately creating the exact conditions that would lead to a declaration of a state of emergency.”

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He further elaborated, “Even back in October of last year, specifically on October 7th, 2024, those who support the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, went as far as burning down four local government councils during the elections in Rivers State. It’s heartbreaking to see that even the President has been drawn into this crisis. It’s truly disappointing.”

Tam-George Accuses Tinubu of Favoritism

Tam-George also accused President Tinubu of providing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister with the necessary fuel to exacerbate the crisis in Rivers State. He argued that Tinubu’s eight mediation points clearly favored Wike, showing a lack of neutrality in the President’s approach to the crisis.

He pointed out that in analyzing the crisis during his state of emergency speech, Tinubu failed to even mention Wike’s name. Tam-George expressed his frustration, saying, “My own feeling, which resonates with a broad spectrum of sentiments across the board—not just in Rivers State, but also in the Niger Delta region—is that the President himself is not a neutral party. In fact, you could argue that his fingerprints are all over this crisis.”

December 2023: Tinubu’s Initial Intervention

Tam-George recalled the President’s intervention in December 2023, where he imposed humiliating conditions on Governor Fubara. He explained, “You may remember that in December 2023, the President intervened in the crisis with eight points of mediation. Every single one of those points was heavily weighted against Governor Fubara. Not a single point was directed at the main orchestrator of this crisis, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who is the FCT Minister.”

He added, “And now, this evening, we’ve heard the broadcast. Throughout the entire broadcast, not a single mention was made of the FCT Minister, who is the primary actor behind the scenes in this crisis. And he happens to be an appointee of the President. It’s incredibly unfortunate that the President has come across as an active supporter of Nyesom Wike, who has now led the state into such a precarious situation.”

In conclusion, Tam-George’s critique highlights the complexities and deep-seated tensions within Rivers State’s political environment. His words underscore the broader concerns about the President’s role in the unfolding drama, raising questions about impartiality and the future stability of the region.

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