Former Rivers lawmaker Hon. Chidi Lloyd has declared that the state has been in a state of crisis since Siminalayi Fubara assumed office as governor. Lloyd, who previously served as chairman of Emohua Local Government Area (LGA) and as the leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, made the statement on Monday during an interview on AIT’s Focus Nigeria.
His comments come days after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state assembly due to ongoing political unrest. The president appointed retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator.
Lloyd, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), attributed the crisis to Fubara’s refusal to recognize the 27 lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to him, since Governor Fubara’s administration began, there has been a state of emergency in Rivers State, adding that what happened a few days ago was merely a formal declaration by the president under Section 305 of the constitution.
He accused the governor of inciting unrest, alleging that Fubara had encouraged street urchins to be on standby for potential action.
Lloyd further criticized the governor’s leadership, claiming that Fubara was unprepared for the role. “He admitted himself during the primaries that he was not ready for this office,” he said.
Using an analogy, Lloyd compared Fubara’s leadership to giving a novice driver a luxury car. “Normally, a learner driver is given an old, rickety vehicle to practice with, not a Mercedes-Benz. But in Rivers State, we handed over leadership to someone unprepared, and this is the result,” he said.
The former LGA chairman lamented that Rivers State remains the only one in the country without peace for nearly two years.
