The Throne of Rivers: A Governor Suspended, A Nation Divided, and the Battle for Legitimacy

When Democracy is Tested, Who Decides What is Law?

The sun rose over Rivers State, but the shadows of uncertainty loomed larger than ever. The seat of power, once occupied by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, now stood in the hands of an unelected man—a sole administrator, sworn in under the watchful gaze of the presidency.

A decree had fallen like a hammer. State of emergency. Suspension. A new ruler.

But the echoes of that hammerstrike did not settle. Instead, they stirred the storm.

The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) stood at the gates of justice, fists clenched, voices raised. Their message was clear:

"This is unconstitutional. This is unacceptable. This is not democracy."

Afam Osigwe, the NBA President, took to the airwaves, his words slicing through the confusion like a blade.

"Which law grants a President the power to erase a governor’s mandate? Which oath did the new 'leader' swear upon? Where in our Constitution does it say that democracy can be suspended with a signature?"

The legal world was in an uproar. The streets whispered in protest. The nation held its breath.

Would President Tinubu back down and restore Fubara to power?

Or had the rules of governance just been rewritten—right before our eyes?

The battle for Rivers had begun, but the war for Nigeria’s democracy was just getting started.