NewStats: 3,263,403 , 8,180,005 topics. Date: Thursday, 05 June 2025 at 06:55 PM 1v111r

Decision proactive, necessary, says governor, minister

Fubara at church service

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State got more backing at the weekend.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo lashed out at former President Goodluck Jonathan for criticising the presidential action.

Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris defended the “painful but responsible” action.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said a Rivers State without the emergency declaration, given the way things were going, could be better imagined.

Dr. Jonathan, speaking at the weekend, described the emergency declaration in Rivers as an abuse of power.


He went ahead to blame everybody, saying: “The executive, legislature and the judiciary know the correct thing to do but they are refusing to do it.”


Okpebholo, speaking during the kick-off of the 125-kilometre Benin-Auchi road yesterday, described ex-President Jonathan as not decisive when he was President, hence, his criticism of the proactive step by President Tinubu.

He said the declaration of emergency had saved Nigeria’s economy.

The governor said: “The man criticising President Tinubu did not take a similar step when he heard that they were going to kidnap the Chibok girls in 2014. It is better for a President to be proactive. The single decision taken by President Tinubu saved the economy of Nigeria.”


The Edo Governor added: “What President Tinubu did in Rivers State is a welcome development, to ensure peace in the Niger Delta.

“The decision he took to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State is in the best interest of Nigerians.

“When crude oil pipelines in Rivers State were being blown by militants, what did Nigerians expect Mr. President to do on the nation’s economic sustenance?”


Continuing, Okpebholo said: “When Jonathan was Nigeria’s President, the country’s total annual budget was not more than N1.6 trillion, but the N1.6 trillion is what we are sharing monthly (from the Federation ) in this nation today. That is a man that has vision.”

It was the second time in five days that Okpebholo would back the presidential action.

On Thursday, he dissociated himself from the criticism of the presidential action by the Southsouth Governors Caucus.


He thanked the President for the ongoing Federal road projects in the state, adding that when Dr. Jonathan, a son of the Niger Delta, was President, Edo was not ed.

Minister defends Tinubu

Idris told The Nation last night that: “The president has no intention whatsoever to take over the governance of Rivers State. He has no intention to appoint a governor for Rivers State.


“Rivers belongs to the people of the state. Just like all the other states of the federation have their governors and are functioning, the President also wants Rivers to function effectively.”

The minister explained that President Tinubu took a “very responsible but very painful decision” as governance in the state had collapsed.

https://thenationonlineng.net/rivers-emergency-declaration-okpebholo-faults-jonathan/

Seems the people blaming the president for declaring SOE in Rivers state are being advised by the same person. They all keep saying the same thing.


Where is Baba Obasanjo? Why has he been silent? I wonder what he will say too.

Jona is a clown.

I use to like this Jonathan before and i use to wonder why people wanted him out of Aso rock. Now i know why.

This man kept silent when Sim brought down the state assembly complex and seized the salaries and allowances of the elected lawmakers for a whole 16 months and this self acclaimed democrat stayed silent.

Thanks okphebolo. When Jonathan was president, almost 400 young girls were kidnapped from their school and not found till today. It took him more than a month to be convinced. He was a weakling and couldn't do anything about the boko haram losing many towns and cities to the insurgents until he allowed Buhari to sweep him away from power. The Asiwaju of their fathers is not a weak politician like Jonathan, and has come to stay till 2031, God's willing. Last time, I voted for him alone, come 2027, me and my entire family are voting Asiwaju of Africa. Kiss the truth. Fubara should go and honour what he signed

Wonders shall never end, okpebolo sef dey talk.

ogmask:
Wonders shall never end, okpebolo sef dey talk.

As in ehn, Someone that promised "insecurity" is also talking.

It would have been news if he had said otherwise

Jonathan should retire back to his weakling position..

We are not here to discuss a weakling who speaks like a baby....

A man Buhari muscled power away from his hands....

Teaching Fubara how to be ungrateful..

This is politics.... if you're not strong... carry your emotions and sentiments away

See even this olodo wey no fit speak well dey talk.

ogmask:
Wonders shall never end, okpebolo sef dey talk.

I weak.

Nigerians really deserve the kind of leaders they have.

No be everything you for dey put mouth on top.

You are still a young governor like Fubara

I don't expect better opinion from the likes of EDO GOV. because he was also won the election through similar abuse of Power from president, daylight robbery election

In which language or Nigeria dialect did he make the speech?

Everything about this illiterate irritates me but I thank God he is not my Governor.

What does he even know about Governance to even think he is fit to make an opinion on national issues

Why haven't Tinubu been proactive against
Kidnapping
Fulani militias killings
Banditry
Corruption
And other numerous situations more dare to Nigerians like, hunger, hardship, unemployment,....these have led to increase in prostitution and ritual killings among the youths who have changed their nomenclature to.... HOOKUP AND HUSTLING

See this illiterate too dey talk

President Tinubu is just taking the tough, necessary steps to stabilize the region and secure Nigeria’s future, sometimes hard decisions are the ones that save us.

Lol

Nigeria dey muzz person sha

Make I hear word.
He should 'fault' his oga and then the man in the mirror first before pointing fingers elsewhere.....

So Okpebholo can now speak English. Power good o 😂😂😂

Look at the comments here and you will know why Nigeria is where it is today

lol. Chai ! Na wa o !

Who even told him what to say?

Okpebolo wey no fit introduce himself well is dey put mouth for Rivers State matters wey big ham🤒

Opbebeblo or wetin be your name.. We still de wait for you and Adam oshomole fight

All these reactions
Untop weytin...

If this crisis continues, all of here know for sure that people will be dead, The lawmakers and ers will be attacked.
People were even planning on burning down people's houses...

Now everybody dong calm down, Fubura sef go church, Wile sef las find time d go school (unical doctorate)

And Una dey here d drink reactor anyhow

What that has been written has been written... Pontius Pilate.

Chaiiiiii, see who is talking 🤣🤣🤣

Okpebholo self dey talk.
Sycophant!

chief Programmed Bot has spoken

A lot of people are not being sincere with themselves here
Those same people would have gone to Arise TV to lambast the president for doing if the situation in Rivers had been allowed to deteriorate further