Lagos – Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the political crisis in Rivers State, describing the alleged removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency as a direct violation of Nigeria’s constitution.
Speaking at the 9th Akinjide Adeosun Foundation (AAF) Annual Leadership Discourse in Lagos, themed “Fearless Leadership: A Panacea for Sustainable Development,” Amaechi expressed deep concern over what he termed the rising arbitrariness in governance and the erosion of democratic principles.
“The president didn’t just break a law — he broke the constitution,” Amaechi said. “That is the sacred document of any country. Its sanctity must be protected. But in Nigeria, the president removed a sitting governor and installed a military administrator — and nothing happened.”
Amaechi faulted the National Assembly for its inaction, accusing it of being a weak institution that enabled what he called “an illegal government” in Rivers State. He argued that fearless leadership is only romanticized in broken systems where institutional failure allows autocracy to thrive.
“In a functional system, you don’t need a courageous leader,” he added. “You just push a button, and the system works. But in Nigeria, docile followership has allowed authoritarianism to grow unchecked.”
He warned that without a return to constitutionality and the separation of powers, the nation risks further democratic decay, where leaders rule not by law but by personal will.
Joining the discourse, 2015 Lagos PDP governorship candidate Jimi Agbaje emphasized the importance of an enabling environment to foster fearless leadership. He argued that many Nigerians remain silent in the face of misrule not out of cowardice, but out of fear for their family’s welfare.
“When people know that their children can still go to school and get healthcare even if they speak truth to power, that’s when fearless leadership will emerge,” Agbaje said.
He referenced the recent mass defection of political actors as a reflection of a fearful rather than courageous political climate. “If a whole state structure switches parties overnight, what does that say about our leaders’ convictions?” he asked.
AAF founder Akinjide Adeosun closed the event by calling for a new leadership paradigm rooted in excellence and service. “Fearless leadership isn’t just about rhetoric,” he said. “It’s about ensuring access to clean water, power, security, and economic opportunity for all.”
The event served as a platform for urgent reflections on the role of leadership in Nigeria’s political future — and whether the country still honors the rule of law it claims to uphold.
