, has openly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
In a bold statement shared on her Instagram account, Dokubo accused the president of ulterior motives, suggesting that the move aims to “capture the economic soul of Rivers State.”

On March 18, 2025, President Tinubu announced a six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, citing escalating political unrest and a breakdown of governance as the primary reasons for the unprecedented action.

Reacting swiftly, Dokubo expressed her outrage, stating: “State of emergency because for two years we have had peace! State of emergency because you want to capture the economic soul of Rivers State! State of emergency because of one man? Shameless! Perhaps Mr. President should say he wants to annex Rivers State.”

She further drew parallels to George Orwell’s Animal Farm, implying that the president’s actions resemble the allegorical themes of power and control depicted in the novel.

Dokubo suggested that every citizen of Rivers State should read the book as a form of enlightenment, adding, “The Animal Farm by George Orwell should be given to every Rivers State citizen as palliative. Meantime, someone tell Mr. Jones to rein in his pigs.”

In a more vivid caption of her post, she noted that “people now know the real enemy… the hand beating the drum.”
The president’s declaration has sparked a flurry of reactions from netizens, with many taking to social media platforms to voice their opinions. Some users echoed Dokubo’s sentiments, questioning the necessity and timing of the state of emergency.

One user commented: “Declaring a state of emergency when the citizens are in peace, but the states plagued by bandits and terrorists are yet to be declared.”

Another user expressed frustration over the perceived political motivations behind the declaration, stating, “I want to type, but I’m just so tired of this country that I can’t waste my strength. I no know if I wan cry abi I dey vex.”
Conversely, other netizens commented in a way that hinted at future protests in the state. A user noted: “Tinubu will be taught a lesson soon. Oil production will drop to 600,000 barrels.”

Some Instagram users also commented in a way that fueled the recent saga of an NYSC corps member: “This is one of the reasons why we support the corps member’s assertion. A terrible government.”

Conversely, some individuals defended the president’s decision, arguing that the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State warranted such measures. A commenter noted,

“The governor of a state has been fighting with his legislators for over a year. None of them is being paid their salaries. He went ahead to do a kangaroo local government election, and the same was quashed in court. There’s no budget for the year, and we’re already in March. Instead of him humbling himself with the House of Assembly, he did not. Who do you think is suffering? Without a budget, how will the state run? Who will pay teachers and workers? This is the best option for the good people of Rivers State.”

Another user added: “I love and respect you, but please try for once to use good reasoning when commenting on issues that are case-sensitive—not just to the politics of your home state but as it regards Nigeria as a nation in general.”
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also weighed in on the issue, labelling the president’s actions as unconstitutional. NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN, emphasized that the 1999 Constitution does not grant the president the power to remove an elected governor or state legislators under the guise of a state of emergency. The association warned that such a precedent could undermine Nigeria’s democracy, stating: “The purported removal of Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is unconstitutional, unlawful, and a dangerous affront to our nation’s democracy.”

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the declaration, describing it as “political manipulation and outright bad faith.”

He accused President Tinubu of being a partisan actor in the political turmoil engulfing Rivers State and criticised the administration’s handling of the situation.

Atiku stated, “Tinubu cannot evade responsibility for the chaos his administration has either enabled or failed to prevent. It is an unforgivable failure that under Tinubu’s watch, the Niger Delta has been thrown back into an era of violent unrest and instability.”

The comment that broke the camel’s back was when a netizen reacted: “All the university professors and lecturers must apologise to all law students, history students, and political science students. This country has taught us the opposite of what you all taught.”

In all, it is best to remain calm during this time and allow law and order to prevail in Rivers State and Nigeria for the progress of all Nigerian citizens.