NewStats: 3,261,915 , 8,175,545 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 02:38 AM 2l2f2f

By Bayo Wahab


Prof Pat Utomi has questioned President Bola Tinubu’s motive for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing there was no ground for such a move.

In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2024, President Tinubu cited militant vandalization of pipelines and the political situation in Rivers as reasons for cong the state to emergency rule.

The President also nominated Vice iral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as to take charge of the state’s affairs after suspending Governor Siminalayi Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, and all elected of the House of Assembly of Rivers State.

However, Prof Utomi faulted President Tinubu’s decision in an interview on Channels Television, saying that the political crisis in Rivers did not warrant a state of emergency.

The professor of political economy asserted that even when militants in Rivers were blowing up pipelines during the previous istration, the state was not subjected to emergency rule.

Prof Utomi further questioned the president for not declaring a state of emergency in Lagos State during the crisis involving the Lagos House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and his colleagues.

“What is the problem in Rivers State that warranted a state of emergency? Tell me what it is. When pipelines were blowing up like popcorn in Rivers State, was there a state of emergency?”

Why did he not declare a state of emergency in Lagos State when the assembly was running back and forth? Why Rivers? There’s something about fairness, equity and pure decency, and I don’t see it here, and I think it’s a shame that they want to rubbish the democracy that we all fought so hard for.”

Prof Utomi also blasted the National Assembly for endorsing President Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

According to him, the endorsement was an insult to Nigerians.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/why-didnt-he-declare-soe-in-lagos-over-obasa-saga-utomi-questions-tinubus-motive/

Obasa is greater than Tinubu. Obasa is not Ambode.

There was no bombing of national assets and no threat of burning down the state and country by indegenes or politicians. There was no burning of the Assembly. When the President called them to order, they complied, but when the President mediated in Rivers crisis, he was called different unprintable names.

Lastly, Tinubu’s SoE is to protect Fubara from impeachment. If not for the SoE, Fubara would have been impeached overnight in one beer parlour since he has burnt down the State Assembly complex. So Tinubu actually checkmated the Assembly by the SoE which had stopped the planned impeachment. Now, Fubara can come back in 6 months, but if Tinubu had waited for about 48 hours, the kindergarten governor would have been impeached and he will not have the opportunity of coming back in 6 months which Tinubu just granted him.

Utomi and his gang are so dumb

jmoore:
Obasa is greater than Tinubu.

Who is your father greater than?

simpleseyi:

Who is your father greater than?

Who is your father and mother?

Waiting for his response.

I know that Tinubu was totally wrong with the steps he took in Rivers crises, but nobody should be comparing what's happening in Rivers State to what happened in Lagos. After all, Sanwo-Olu didn't bring down the State House of Assembly.

Lol what will warrant emergency rule in Lagos.

I never know Pat Utomi is this dulll.

—Did Sanwoolu or the speaker demolished the assembly

—Did Sanwoolu fail to pay the salaries of the

—Did Sanwoolu instruct people to blow up the ports

At the assembly, Meranda sat down herself when Obasa was reinstated and all of them spoke. So where is the tension?

Pat Utomi brainnn is on recession.

jmoore:

Who is your father and mother?

They are those your father and mother have been praying to be like

SmartPolician:
I know that Tinubu was totally wrong with the steps he took in Rivers crises, but nobody should be comparing what's happening in Rivers State to what happened in Lagos. After all, Sanwo-Olu didn't bring down the State House of Assembly.

I too think that Tinubu should have waited until about 1,000 innocent people are shot during crossfire by militants ing either sides, followed by burning of several government buildings

Tinubu don dey feel the heat from the profs.

This one wey Utomi dey ask question like say him be Obi campaigner, e don level.

simpleseyi:

They are those your father and mother have been praying to be like

A lion can't be praying to be a pig.

Soldiers slaughtered by terrorists in North - No state of emergency

Fulani Herdsmen slaughtering people in SW, SE, Middlebelt - No state of emergency

But Wike that has no elective position in Rivers state is quarreling with the governor of Rivers. You carry state of emergency knack the state.


You suspended Fubara
You suspended Rivers state assembly .

But you retained Wike as the minister.


Nonsense babablu.

Wisely said

And the crisis yet to solved,still dey ground

Obasa's crises does not involve pipeline blast and Sanwo-Olu! The House complex wasn't brought down!

Sanwo Olu didn't incite the public that he'll get back to them when the time is right!

Sanwo-Olu didn't present budget to just 4 of the house!

Abi

Why no bomb blast and oil pipeline vandalism in Lagos should be the right question. Smh

So we ask again, Is Sim Fubara Behind The Oil Pipelines Bombing And Vandalism In Rivers State? https://nairaland.unblockandhide.com/8373016/behind-pipelines-bombing-vandalism-rivers

Average Obidients dey ment
Mr Pat Utomi Professorship is questionable

jmoore:

A lion can't be praying to be a pig.

Take your drugs, the psychiatric hospitals are full

The problem we have in Nigeria isn't different from what we have here on Nairaland.

A few previledged persons would recruit a handful of roustabouts and hand them stipend to defend what is wrong.

Mumu, attention seeking idiot.
Comparing Lagos politics ime with Rivers is the dumbest thing from this political sore loser.

SmartPolician:
I know that Tinubu was totally wrong with the steps he took in Rivers crises, but nobody should be comparing what's happening in Rivers State to what happened in Lagos. After all, Sanwo-Olu didn't bring down the State House of Assembly.

He was not totally wrong. The security reports/ intelligence available to him could have prompted him. The experts consulted before arriving at the decision know what most of us don't know. Unfortunately, security/ intelligence reports can't be shared publicly

These days some people just add voice to issues without thinking.
Lets compare lagos and Rivers state issues
1. The matter was between speaker and governor, state House of assembly was not demolished or pipeline was bombed and nobody came online to threaten violence in the state.

2. Rivers state waring fractions were invited by the president just the way lagos state was invited. But lagos matter was resolved immediately unlike Rivers fubara went back and broke whatever agreement that was reached and still granted interview telling the media that he was deceived into settling.

3. The violence in the lagos ended in the state assembly no state owned property was demolished. Budget was not read among 4 people. No disruption of government activities. Governor was not making careless statements like fubara.

Last time I checked, we did not see lagos youths blowing up third mainland bridge or the port at Apapa , neither did we see them trying to blow up dangote refinery.

In addition, Sanwo Olu did not take a bull dozer to demolish Lagos house of assembly because he does not like Obasa. And the issue was promptly resolved.

And they call this man, Utomi, a professior. Abeg oo, let's us be doing opposition like educated people because this is question is very senseless.

Utomi, how about you call out your LP senators and HOR that did not oppose the SOE.

Very stupid and myopic question ! Was there destruction of government buildings and bombing of government infrastructures in Lagos What sort of animals do we have in Nigeria that love ing evil!

THERE WILL BE SO MANY EMERGENCY IN LAGOS POST 2027.


YORUBA HAVE SHOWED FULANI HOW TO DO IT.


THEM GO BLOW ONE BOMB DECLARE STATE OF EMERGENCY FORTHE WHOLE SW STATES.



NA TINUBU SHOW US HOW TO CAPTURE LAGOS FINALLY.



LAGOS SOLE LOADING.

simpleseyi:


Take your drugs, the psychiatric hospitals are full

E pain am oh!

Next time, try to mention my parents in any comment and collect wotowoto.

The rule of law is dead in Nigeria Sir

So this Utomi is this foolish?

Comparing the issue in Lagos State House of Assembly to a nearly two year of political war that was already involving bombing of government properties is the height of foolishness!

LegendHero:
Lol what will warrant emergency rule in Lagos.

I never know Pat Utomi is this dulll.

—Did Sanwoolu or the speaker demolished the assembly

—Did Sanwoolu fail to pay the salaries of the

—Did Sanwoolu instruct people to blow up the ports

At the assembly, Meranda sat down herself when Obasa was reinstated and all of them spoke. So where is the tension?

Pat Utomi brainnn is on recession.

Don't mind attention seeking sore loser.