Just days before Nigeria’s Democracy Day on June 12, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to restore constitutional governance in Rivers State. The group urged the president to reverse what it describes as an undemocratic state of emergency and reinstate Governor Siminalayi Fubara and all elected members of the State Assembly.
The council’s president, Dr. Theophilus Alaye, issued a statement in Abuja calling on Tinubu to use the occasion to reaffirm his commitment to democracy and the rule of law. He noted that the significance of June 12 goes beyond commemoration—it represents the people’s voice and the strength of Nigeria’s democratic journey. Dr. Alaye reminded the president of his personal history as a beneficiary of democratic struggle, suggesting that this is an opportunity to lead by example.
Backing this call is a recent survey by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), which paints a troubling picture of public perception in Rivers. According to the findings, 92.7% of respondents are aware of the state of emergency, and a large majority reject it as unconstitutional and politically driven. The survey sampled 400 residents across the three senatorial districts of the state, including youths, women, civil servants, and business owners.
A key takeaway from the CJID report is that 65% of respondents believe Governor Fubara’s suspension is illegal, while 68.2% disapprove of the Federal Government’s overall actions in the state. The report further revealed that 86.7% of those surveyed do not accept the government’s justification that the emergency was based on security concerns. Residents say their daily lives have remained stable, casting doubt on claims of unrest.
The study also highlighted that more than 75% of the people do not know about the activities or plans of the appointed Sole Administrator, raising transparency concerns. CJID’s Deputy Director of Accountability Programmes, Mboho Eno, who presented the findings in Abuja, emphasized that the suspension of democratic structures has left many feeling excluded and confused about who governs them.
Experts warn that the Federal Government’s decision risks setting a precedent that could undermine democracy. They noted that previous emergency declarations—such as those under former Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan—involved significant violence and instability. In contrast, the crisis in Rivers is largely political, making the suspension of elected officials appear excessive and troubling to many observers.
