Rivers Emergency: Jonathan Warns of “Abuse of Power” Across Government.
Port Harcourt, Rivers State – Former President Goodluck Jonathan has broken his silence on the ongoing political tensions and the declared state of emergency in Rivers State, urging key actors within the Nigerian government to uphold the rule of law and avoid abuse of power. While stopping short of directly condemning or endorsing the emergency declaration, Jonathan expressed deep concern over
The state of affairs, drawing parallels with an Indian proverb about the futility of waking someone pretending to sleep. Speaking on March 22, 2025, Jonathan revealed that he and other former presidents had been under pressure to comment on the situation. However, he emphasized the traditional reluctance of former leaders to publicly critique sitting presidents, citing the potential for increased national tension.
“As a former president and someone from the Niger Delta, when the issue of suspending the governor arose, people called on me. I heard, ‘Oh, President Jonathan, oh, President Obasanjo, you should say something.’ People expected us to comment. But traditionally, all over the world, former presidents rarely make statements about what the current president is doing because of the tension it could create in the country. Look at America, look at other countries—it is hardly common for former presidents to intervene in such matters,” Jonathan stated.
He then shifted his focus to the broader issues plaguing the Nigerian government, asserting that there is a “clear abuse of office, power, and privileges across the three arms of government—the executive, the parliament, and the judiciary.” He likened the situation to an Indian proverb, stating, “If somebody is truly asleep, you can wake them up easily. But if they are only pretending to sleep, waking them up becomes impossible. The key actors in Nigeria—the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary—know the right thing to do but are refusing to do it.
They are pretending to sleep. Waking such people is extremely difficult, but they know the right thing.” Jonathan also highlighted the detrimental impact of compromised institutions on Nigeria’s international standing and economic prospects. “No businessman will bring his money to invest in a country where the judiciary is compromised, where a government functionary can dictate to judges what judgment they should give. No one will invest in such an economy because it is a big risk,” he warned.
He concluded his address with a plea for national integrity, urging Nigerians to “strive to do what is right” for the sake of future generations, regardless of the personal cost. While Jonathan did not explicitly address the specifics of the Rivers State emergency, his remarks underscored a broader concern about the erosion of institutional integrity and the need for accountability within the Nigerian government. His words are likely to fuel further debate about the legitimacy of the emergency declaration and the role of the federal government in state affairs.
