Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has criticised the political class over the lingering crisis in Rivers State, accusing politicians of prioritising personal interests over the welfare of Nigerians.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics on Monday, Agbakoba said the developments in Rivers clearly showed that those in power were disconnected from the people they were elected to govern.
“Well, what’s going on is a clear indication that our political class has no interest in Nigerians because I have not heard in any of all these disputes that these people understand that they are governing Nigeria, and in particular, Rivers people,” he said.
Describing the situation as toxic, Agbakoba traced the crisis to political realignments and power struggles ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“It’s a toxic situation in Rivers. First, the governor was in the PDP, and Mr Nyesom Wike was pursuing him. He now bent over backwards, resigned from PDP, and went into APC.
“So, what the hell is the problem? I just don’t understand it, except it’s a power fight for 2027. That’s clear,” he stated.
The senior lawyer lamented that politicians across party lines were more focused on personal ambitions than governance.
“When you have people in power in diverse political parties, rather than focus on Nigeria, they’re just interested in themselves,” he said.
Agbakoba said he had no allegiance to any of the key actors in the crisis, stressing that the situation defied logic.
“I don’t support Wike or Fubara. I don’t care for any of them. But if Fubara was elected on the PDP and he was forced out of the PDP into the APC, then what again is the issue? It’s difficult to understand,” he added.
He reminded politicians that their authority was derived from the electorate and urged them to reflect on their responsibility to the people of Rivers State.
“Could they just kindly remember that they were elected by the votes of the Rivers people? Rivers people will be terribly disappointed in what’s going on, because it’s as if no one exists in Rivers State except Fubara, Wike, and the political people,” Agbakoba said.
Rivers State has been gripped by a prolonged political crisis, with Governor Siminalayi Fubara locked in a confrontation with members of the State House of Assembly believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Last Thursday, lawmakers led by the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, formally initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.
The Majority Leader, Major Jack, presented a notice signed by 26 lawmakers, detailing allegations of gross misconduct against the governor. These include alleged extra-budgetary spending of over ₦800bn without legislative approval, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, demolition of the Assembly complex, and defiance of Supreme Court judgments on legislative autonomy.
A separate notice was also read against the deputy governor, accusing her of conniving in unconstitutional expenditures.
