In a significant divergence from the regional stance, Acting Governor Peter Odey of Cross River State has publicly declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, contradicting the official position of the South-South Governors’ Forum.
Odey, currently filling in for Governor Bassey Otu who is on annual leave, issued a statement through his press secretary, Fred Abua, on Friday, asserting that the forum had failed to consult him before issuing its condemnation of the emergency rule.
President Tinubu’s decision to impose emergency rule, citing prolonged political instability and oil pipeline vandalism, resulted in the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire state house of assembly for six months. Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas was subsequently appointed as the sole administrator for Rivers State. The National Assembly’s controversial approval of Tinubu’s request further fueled the regional divide.
Earlier, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo had already distanced himself from the forum’s position, expressing his belief that Tinubu’s intervention would foster lasting peace in Rivers.
Odey echoed this sentiment, stating that he “fully aligns” with Tinubu’s decision, deeming it to be in the “best interest of national security, peace, and stability.” “As such, the position of the forum does not reflect the views of the Government of Cross River State,” Odey’s statement emphasized.
He further argued that “every responsible government must prioritize the protection of lives and property, and where circumstances necessitate decisive action, such measures should be supported for the greater good of our democracy and national unity.”
Odey concluded by reiterating Cross River’s commitment to constitutional governance and its continued collaboration with the federal government to ensure peace, security, and stability across the nation.
The political backdrop of this division is notable: Cross River and Edo are governed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while the remaining South-South states – Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa – are under the control of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
