Annkio Briggs Criticizes Tinubu’s Approach to Rivers State Crisis

Annkio Briggs Criticizes Tinubu’s Approach to Rivers State Crisis

Niger Delta activist, Annkio Briggs, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the political crisis in Rivers State, particularly the recent state of emergency declaration………READ MORE

According to Naija News, President Tinubu on Tuesday suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state House of Assembly for six months.

In an interview with TVC on Wednesday, Briggs accused the President of imposing on the people of Rivers State the same conditions he had opposed during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

She also condemned Tinubu’s approach to the crisis, stating that he appeared to be treating the dispute between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as if Rivers State had two governors.

Briggs further argued that the faction of the House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule was acting against Governor Fubara.

“We intervened from the onset, reaching out to both the Governor and the Minister of the FCT, but received no response,” she said. “There are two categories of elders involved in this crisis—those who are loyal to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and those who support the sitting governor. It is puzzling that a former governor who is now a minister has managed to divide PDP’s support in the state’s governance.”

She emphasized that Rivers people overwhelmingly voted for Governor Fubara and should be allowed to benefit from his administration. However, she noted that the 27 lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) had already distanced themselves from the governor before their defection.

Briggs concluded by questioning why Rivers citizens and Governor Fubara were being asked to accept a situation that President Tinubu himself had rejected when he faced a similar challenge as Lagos governor.