Senator Dr. Bennett Birabi has spoken out strongly against the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State. In an interview with Channels Television, he warned that the situation could affect not only Rivers but the whole of Nigeria.
Birabi criticized the political tension surrounding Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the threats of impeachment. He questioned why one person should have so much power and why some politicians are trying to control the state at all costs. According to him, Rivers State has had governors before Nyesom Wike, and leadership should not end with him. If Fubara is not doing well, he believes people should wait until his tenure is over instead of trying to remove him forcefully.
Here’s the link to the interview, it began 16.17 to 17.55 minutes into the video.
The senator also compared the situation to authoritarian governments like Russia, where people who oppose the leader often face serious consequences. He suggested that some politicians in Nigeria want to rule similarly, silencing anyone who speaks against them.
Birabi made it clear that he cannot be bribed with money or given a position to change his stance. He boldly stated that the only way his opponents can stop him from speaking out is by killing him. “I can’t be Silenced; I don’t need money or position; there’s nothing anybody is giving me that I haven’t seen before. So the only means to silence me is to kill me. So don’t be surprised if anything happens,” he said.
However, he assured me that even if something happens to him, it will not solve the crisis in Rivers State.