Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka Condemns Tinubu’s Rivers Emergency Rule as Threat to Federalism, Demands Constitutional Overhaul
Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has launched a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s decision to impose emergency rule in Rivers State, calling it a dangerous erosion of Nigeria’s federal structure. The literary icon warned that suspending elected officials and centralizing power sets a perilous precedent for Africa’s most populous democracy.
Tinubu’s Emergency Declaration
Tinubu declared a state of emergency on March 23, 2025, citing political instability in the oil-rich state. The presidential order suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all 32 state assembly members for six months, replacing them with retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as sole administrator.
“This wholesale scuttling of democratic structures constitutes excessive overreach,” Soyinka told Channels Television during an exclusive interview. “While presidents possess constitutional emergency powers, discretion must temper their application. What we’re witnessing resembles military-era dictatorship more than democratic governance.”
The move followed weeks of political tension between Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, his predecessor and former ally. Security forces reported multiple clashes between rival factions, though casualty figures remain disputed.
Soyinka’s Critique
Soyinka questioned the timing and proportionality of Tinubu’s response. He asked if there was no middle ground between full administrative control and localized interventions. Removing every elected official suggests either panic or power consolidation – both antithetical to federal principles.
Legal experts remain divided on the emergency’s constitutionality. Section 305 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution permits presidential emergency declarations with legislative approval, which Tinubu secured through swift National Assembly votes. However, human rights lawyer Femi Falana argues that the provision requires “imminent security threats,” not political disagreements.
“Emergency powers exist to address extraordinary crises, not routine governance challenges,” Falana told The Africa Report. “The president’s legal team appears to conflate political inconvenience with constitutional exigency.”
Implications for Federalism
The controversy has reignited debates about Nigeria’s quasi-federal structure. Despite 36 states and 774 local governments, critics argue Abuja retains excessive control over policing, resource allocation, and subnational governance – issues Soyinka claims enable presidential overreach.
“Our constitution remains a unitary document in federal clothing,” Soyinka asserted. “Until we convene a proper national conference and decentralize power, these authoritarian tendencies will persist through successive administrations.”
Opposition parties have coalesced around the emergency rule controversy. The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) labeled it “a civilian coup,” while former Senate President Adolphus Wabara demanded immediate reversal. Even some ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) members privately express discomfort, though none have broken ranks publicly.
International Reactions and Legal Challenges
International observers urge restraint. The UN Office for West Africa released a statement emphasizing “proportionality in governance measures,” while the US Embassy called for “swift restoration of elected institutions.”
As legal challenges mount, analysts predict prolonged uncertainty. Fubara’s legal team filed suit at the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, arguing that the suspension violates Sections 11 and 180 of the Constitution. The case could reach the Supreme Court, potentially clarifying presidential emergency powers for future administrations.
For Soyinka, the crisis underscores systemic flaws: “We’ve recycled military governance structures into civilian rule. Until we dismantle this centralized leviathan and empower states constitutionally, Nigeria’s democratic experiment remains incomplete.”
The Tinubu administration maintains its actions prevented imminent state collapse. Information Minister Mohammed Idris cited intelligence reports of “armed gangs infiltrating government institutions,” though declined to provide evidence. With Rivers producing 40% of Nigeria’s oil exports, analysts suggest economic stability concerns influenced the decision.
As protests erupt in Port Harcourt and Abuja, citizens await judicial and legislative responses. The National Assembly plans emergency sessions to review the intervention, while civil society groups organize nationwide “Rescue Federalism” rallies.
This developing story continues to dominate Nigerian news cycles, with implications for Tinubu’s reform agenda and the 2027 general elections. As Soyinka warned: “Democracy cannot thrive where constitutionalism bends to political expediency. Rivers State has become the battleground for Nigeria’s federal soul.”
Watch Soyinka’s full interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily
