Rivers crisis shows political elite’s disregard for citizens — Agbakoba

 

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olisa Agbakoba, has described the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State as evidence that Nigeria’s political class has little or no interest in the welfare of the people.

Agbakoba spoke on Monday during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, where he lamented that the prolonged turmoil in the state only deepens the suffering and poverty of Nigerians.

The senior lawyer was reacting to recent developments in Rivers State, where the House of Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, amid intense political tensions.

According to Agbakoba, the dispute reflects a toxic struggle for power rather than governance.

“What is happening clearly shows that our political class has no interest in Nigerians. In all these disputes, I have not heard anyone acknowledge that they are governing people—particularly the people of Rivers State,” he said.

He traced the crisis to political realignments, noting that Governor Fubara was initially elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before moving to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It’s a toxic situation. Fubara was in the PDP, and Nyesom Wike was pursuing him. He bent over backwards, resigned from the PDP and moved to the APC. So, what exactly is the problem? Except that it is a power struggle ahead of 2027, which is quite clear,” Agbakoba stated.

He further criticised political leaders across party lines for prioritising personal ambition over national development.

“What is most painful is the failure of governance in Nigeria—healthcare, education, virtually everywhere. Rather than focus on fixing the country, those in power are only interested in themselves,” he said.

Agbakoba stressed that the political actors involved must remember their responsibility to the electorate.

“They were elected by the votes of the Rivers people. Those people will be terribly disappointed by what is going on, because it appears as if no one exists in Rivers State except Fubara, Wike and the political elite,” he added.

The SAN maintained that the crisis underscores the urgent need for leaders to put public interest above personal and political calculations.