The Firestorm of Power: Tinubu’s Gambit, Jonathan’s Silence, and the Fate of a Nation

In the Heart of Nigeria’s Political Battlefield, a President Acts, a Former Leader Condemns, and a Governor Strikes Back

The drums of controversy beat loud across the nation. In the sweltering heat of Edo State, amidst the dust and clamor of the Benin-Auchi road project launch, Governor Monday Okpebholo took the microphone—not just to speak, but to strike. His words, sharp as a blade, cut through the air, carrying an accusation that would set the political landscape ablaze.

“How dare he criticize?” Okpebholo thundered, his voice echoing across the gathered crowd. His target? Former President Goodluck Jonathan. His crime? Daring to question President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State.

But this was not just about Rivers. This was about leadership. About choices made—or not made. About the ghosts of the past and the fires of the present.

Okpebholo’s words dripped with contempt as he reminded the nation of a painful wound—one that had never truly healed.

“The man who speaks now… where was he when they came for the Chibok girls?” The crowd murmured. Some nodded. Others stared, waiting for what would come next.

The governor did not stop.

“Did he act? Did he save them? No! He watched. He hesitated. And now, he dares to condemn a President who refuses to do the same?”

The tension was electric. Across Nigeria, screens flickered as citizens leaned in closer. This was not just another political spat. This was history repeating itself—except this time, the response was different.

President Tinubu had moved swiftly, decisively, cutting through the chaos in Rivers like a knife through thick fog. The Niger Delta—long a cauldron of unrest, militancy, and economic sabotage—was teetering on the edge of catastrophe. Tinubu did not wait for the inevitable explosion. He intervened.

And yet, his critics cried foul. Tyranny, they called it. A power grab. An overreach.

But Okpebholo saw it differently.

“This single decision saved Nigeria’s economy!” he declared. “This is what leadership looks like. Not weakness. Not silence. But action.”

The past and present clashed in a storm of words. The failures of yesterday were dragged into the light, side by side with the ruthless efficiency of today. And as Okpebholo painted the contrast between administrations, his final blow landed like a hammer.

“During Jonathan’s time, our annual budget was ₦1.6 trillion. Today, that’s what we share in a month. This is progress! This is leadership!”

The crowd erupted. The nation was watching.

In the high-stakes game of power, hesitation was fatal. One leader had waited. Another had acted.

The question now was—who would history vindicate?