IBADAN – One of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftains, Chief Bode George has warned that extension of emergency rule in River state beyond September 18 would trigger crisis among the people of the state, just as he also condemned the Emergency Rule declared in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, which suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for six months. President Bola Tinubu had invoked the emergency rule following political face-off between the governor and his predecessor- godfather, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The state lawmakers were divided to the stage of plotting impeachment of the governor. Commenting on the scenario, George said that the state of emergency was unwarranted in the first place. He likened the scenario to the crisis that led to the “Wetie” uprising in the Western Region, and the eventual Civil War of 1967 that ravaged the country for three years. Speaking on “Frontline”, a political programme of Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, the former Deputy National Chairman, South, of the party, warned the Federal Government against extending the emergency rule beyond September 18 if it does not want trouble to ensue in the state. He also warned the Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok- Eke Ibas, to tread softly on whatever action he takes, stressing that he would give account after he leaves office. He said, “We have refused to learn from history and we have continued to repeat the same mistake. Even the situation to create a State of Emergency is not in conformity, and it will be an issue for the next general election. If you just think you can wield your power, extraordinary power, without caution, they are telling us there are no rules in this country. Was there violence in Rivers state? Was there violence in Port- Harcourt or at the Bonny? Was there violence in Ekwere land? There was no violence. “They said there was explosion; who saw it? Who died? Who monitored the explosion? The governor resides in Port-Harcourt and you would have seen the humility and the absolute commitment to the Almighty principle demonstrated by him. He has been calm and I want to congratulate the whole people of Rivers that they did not revert to violence or any action that would have projected them as violent people. They were calm. So, why would you now go and impose state of emergency? Just like Fela Anikulapo sang many years ago, trouble dey sleep, yangan go wake am. Wetin you go find? Na palava you go get. “Now within that period,Extending State of Emergency Beyond September 18 Deadline Will Trigger Unrest In Rivers – Bode George a non-elective person is there. He was my junior in the Navy, and so I am advising him to be very cautious. How can a non-elective person run a local government election? On behalf of whom? At the same time, you are setting up certain board. Are you the elected person? You are just there like a spare tyre or a standby generator. It will soon become a national issue. You may be called back to come and explain yourself on some things you have done. “So, my advice to the young man is to be careful. This is civil rule where you need people to behave from zero to infinity. It is unlike in the Military. You need to work with people, no matter what. This is not like in the Military where you are cocooned with certain behaviour. So, he should treat softly”, Chief George, a member of the Board of Trustees of the party warned. On the possibility of President Bola Tinubu extending the emergency rule after September 18, the former Army General, Electronics and Computer Engineer, said, “Never, never! It will be a case of yanga dey sleep, wahala go wake am. The people will not accept because you are shortchanging them. They had an election and they had somebody elected. That young Administrator should just leave and go home. We are pleading because there would be a day after governance. How will you want to be remembered? This thing is not personal”, he said.
