In a recent interview from 7:29 on News Central TV, former national chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Peter Ameh, faulted President Bola Tinubu’s approach to the Rivers State political crisis, arguing that earlier signs of legislative excess were ignored until the situation escalated.
Speaking on the conduct of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Ameh referenced the role of its Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, noting that the presidency failed to act when tensions were visibly rising inside the chamber. According to him, “There was a time Amaewhule shouted in the chamber, yet the president never called him to order,” a development he said contradicts claims that recent presidential intervention was aimed at preventing instability.
Ameh argued that the silence of the presidency at that critical moment emboldened lawmakers and contributed to the impeachment moves against Governor Siminalayi Fubara. He maintained that if the president truly intended to act as a neutral stabilising force, he would have intervened earlier when the legislative atmosphere became hostile, rather than waiting until court rulings complicated the impeachment process.
The former IPAC chairman further warned that selective intervention weakens democratic institutions and undermines internal party mechanisms. He stressed that political parties, through their national leadership structures, should be allowed to manage internal disputes without excessive federal interference.
According to Ameh, the growing tendency for presidential involvement in state-level conflicts threatens Nigeria’s federal system by diminishing the authority of elected state officials. He noted that such actions risk normalising a culture where loyalty to powerful individuals outweighs respect for constitutional roles and procedures.
He concluded by urging political leaders to respect democratic guardrails and called on citizens and opposition parties in Rivers State to remain actively engaged, insisting that sustained civic participation is essential to restoring institutional balance and accountable governance. See_More…