President-Bola-Ahmed-Tinubu-1-1536x1025 (1) (1).jpg
Presidential aide Temitope Ajayi has defended Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers, rejecting criticism from Jonathan and Soyinka. Ajayi insists Tinubu acted within the constitution to prevent chaos, citing a Supreme Court ruling on Rivers' governance vacuum. The presidency maintains the move was necessary to protect Nigeria’s stability.

Presidential aide Temitope Ajayi has defended President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State, dismissing concerns raised by former President Goodluck Jonathan and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka.

Jonathan had warned that suspending democratic institutions could damage Nigeria’s global reputation, calling the move an “abuse of power.” Meanwhile, Soyinka criticized the decision as undermining federalism and placing excessive control in the presidency.

In response, Ajayi stated that their concerns were personal opinions, emphasizing that Tinubu acted within the constitutional framework to safeguard Nigeria’s stability. He referenced a Supreme Court ruling that declared there was no functional government in Rivers, justifying Tinubu’s intervention.

Ajayi stressed that the president must maintain national order, ensuring no part of the country descends into chaos. Despite mounting political tensions, the presidency maintains that the emergency rule was necessary to restore governance in the oil-rich state.