Shettima Hints at Disagreement with Tinubu Over State of Emergency in Rivers
Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has subtly indicated his disagreement with President Bola Tinubu’s controversial decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State earlier this year, sparking fresh speculation about tensions within the presidency.
The Rivers State Crisis
On March 18, 2025, President Tinubu took the extraordinary step of declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing what he described as a “deeply disturbing political crisis.” The president specifically accused Governor Siminilayi Fubara of demolishing the State House of Assembly building, an act Tinubu characterized as undermining democratic institutions.
The emergency declaration saw Governor Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu suspended for six months, along with all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) was subsequently appointed as Sole Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during the emergency period.
Shettima’s Revealing Remarks
Vice President Shettima’s comments came during the public presentation of a memoir by former Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Bello Adoke at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Thursday.
In what many observers interpreted as a veiled critique of Tinubu’s actions in Rivers, Shettima recounted his own experience nearly being removed as Borno State governor during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The then House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, told Jonathan that ‘Your Excellency, you don’t have the power to remove even a councillor of a local government,'” Shettima revealed to the audience.
The vice president went on to praise Adoke for his courage in standing up to Jonathan: “He told the then President, ‘Mr President, you do not have the power to remove the Governor.’ I admire Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke fundamentally for his courage, his conviction, and his capacity to stand for what he believes in.”
Growing Tensions in the Presidency
Political analysts have been quick to interpret Shettima’s remarks as signaling his disapproval of Tinubu’s approach to the Rivers crisis. The comments come amid persistent rumors of deteriorating relations between the president and his deputy.
Multiple sources within political circles suggest that Tinubu may be considering dropping Shettima as his running mate when he seeks re-election in 2027. While neither the presidency nor the vice president’s office has officially commented on these speculations, Shettima’s latest remarks have added fuel to the fire.
Legal and Constitutional Questions
The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State has raised significant constitutional questions. Legal experts have debated whether the president’s actions fall within the powers granted by Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, which allows for emergency declarations but with specific conditions and limitations.
Shettima’s reference to the Adoke-Jonathan episode appears to highlight these constitutional concerns, drawing parallels between attempts to remove elected officials then and the current situation in Rivers State.
Political Fallout
The Rivers crisis and the apparent rift within the presidency come at a sensitive time for the Tinubu administration, which faces numerous challenges including economic difficulties and security concerns across the country.
Opposition parties have seized on the developments, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describing the emergency declaration as “an unconstitutional power grab” and calling for immediate restoration of democratic governance in Rivers State.
As the political drama unfolds, all eyes remain on the relationship between Nigeria’s two highest offices and how this internal disagreement might affect governance and the country’s political landscape moving forward.
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