ABUJA, Nigeria — Former President Goodluck Jonathan has criticised the handling of the political crisis in Rivers State, accusing Nigeria’s three branches of government—the executive, legislature, and judiciary—of misusing their authority and ignoring constitutional responsibilities.
Speaking on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the annual colloquium of the Haske Satumari Foundation in Abuja, Jonathan broke his customary silence on national matters, citing growing concerns from citizens and leaders urging him and former President Olusegun Obasanjo to comment.
“As a former president and also from the Niger Delta, when the issue of suspending the governor of Rivers State came up, I think people called on me, President Jonathan, and ex-President Obasanjo to say something,” Jonathan said.
He acknowledged that former leaders typically refrain from commenting on their successors’ governance to avoid inflaming tensions, but said the gravity of the situation warranted intervention.
“Pretending to Sleep”
Jonathan described the actions of public officials as a “clear abuse of office and clear abuse of power,” pointing to failures across all branches of government.
“The key actors in Nigeria, from the executive to the legislature, judiciary, and the Senate… they know the correct thing to do. But they are refusing to do it,” he said.
Using a proverb to illustrate his concern, Jonathan added: “If somebody is sleeping, really sleeping, you can easily wake up that person. But if that person is pretending to sleep, you (will) find it difficult to wake up that person.”
He said the Rivers State episode demonstrated this kind of wilful inaction, and warned that the consequences of such behaviour would be long-lasting.
“What is happening in Nigeria today regarding the situation in Rivers State is a reflection of this proverb,” he said.
A Deepening Crisis
President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State earlier this week, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the State Assembly.
The move was ratified by the National Assembly but has sparked significant public and legal backlash.
Civil society organisations, legal scholars, and opposition figures have questioned the constitutionality of the suspensions and raised concerns about democratic backsliding.
The declaration has also prompted a lawsuit filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) at the Federal High Court in Abuja, arguing that the suspension violates the Nigerian Constitution and citizens’ rights to democratic participation.
A Call for Accountability
Jonathan urged Nigerian leaders to prioritise democratic values and remember their accountability to the people.
“We must recognise our collective responsibility in governance,” he said. “These actions, or inactions, shape the future of our country. And history will judge us all.”
His remarks come as pressure mounts for the executive to reconsider its approach to the Rivers State crisis and for national institutions to reaffirm their commitment to constitutional order.
