Prominent Nigerian lawyer and political figure, Kenneth Okonkwo, has publicly criticized the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over its handling of the six-month federal intervention in Rivers State.
Okonkwo, a member of the opposition coalition, expressed concern over what he described as a lack of accountability and transparency during the emergency period.
The legal practitioner aired his grievances in a statement posted to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, September 21, 2025.
His comments come just days after the federal government formally ended the emergency rule and reinstated the democratically elected leadership of Rivers State.
The federal intervention, initiated in early 2025, was prompted by escalating reports of economic sabotage, particularly the destruction of oil pipelines and damage to critical infrastructure across the state.
In response, the federal government temporarily suspended the state’s democratic institutions and appointed a Sole Administrator to oversee governance in the region.
Last week, President Tinubu announced the termination of the emergency rule, effectively restoring Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to their respective positions.
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While the decision to lift the emergency was widely welcomed, Okonkwo raised serious concerns about the lack of tangible outcomes during the six-month intervention.
In his post, the lawyer questioned the federal government’s failure to prosecute or even arrest individuals allegedly responsible for the sabotage that triggered the takeover.
He argued that such inaction undermines the stated justification for the federal government’s move to suspend democratic governance in Rivers.
“My question to Mr President is this,” Okonkwo wrote. “How come you took over the government of Rivers State for six months and there was no single arrest of any person who was involved in vandalizing oil pipelines and critical infrastructure?”
He went on to contrast the situation in Rivers with events in Benue State earlier this year, where President Tinubu, during a condolence visit, instructed the Inspector General of Police to arrest suspects linked to violent attacks in local communities.
said the swift response in Benue makes the federal inaction in Rivers appear inconsistent and selective.
“This is the same President who, while visiting Benue after a tragic incident, gave clear orders for arrests to be made. Why was Rivers different? Where is the accountability for six months of federal control?” he added.
The lawyer’s remarks have sparked renewed debate over the use of emergency powers in Nigeria and the transparency of federal interventions in state affairs.
Critics argue that without clear evidence of progress such as investigations, arrests, or prosecutions, emergency declarations risk being perceived as political tools rather than necessary governance measures.
Supporters of the federal government, however, maintain that the emergency rule in Rivers was crucial for restoring order and protecting national assets in a region vital to Nigeria’s oil economy.
They argue that the return of the elected government signals a successful stabilization process.
Nonetheless, Okonkwo’s comments have added pressure on the Tinubu administration to clarify what, if any, progress was made during the intervention and whether any investigations into the alleged acts of economic sabotage are still ongoing.