The Socialist Workers League (SWL) has fiercely condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it an “imposition of martial law” and demanding its immediate reversal.
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The group, in a statement released on Monday and signed by its National Chairperson, Jamiu Towolawi, and National Secretary, Amara Nwosu, described the suspension of elected public officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara and state legislators, as a blatant assault on democracy.
SWL accused both Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of engaging in a power struggle fueled by personal interests rather than serving the working class.
The organisation alleged that Tinubu’s support for Wike was a politically calculated move tied to the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s controversial 2023 electoral victory in Rivers State and preparations for the 2027 elections.
Highlighting the negative impact of the political crisis, SWL lamented that essential public services, such as education and healthcare, were being neglected as state funds were funneled into the ongoing battle for control.
Declaring “Enough is enough!” the organisation aligned with trade unions and civil society groups in rejecting what it described as “a coup disguised as a state of emergency.”
In a direct attack on the National Assembly, SWL dismissed it as a mere “rubber stamp” of the executive, urging Nigerians not to rely on lawmakers or the presidency for solutions.
Instead, the group called on the people of Rivers State to take action, asserting that workers and citizens must go beyond condemnation and actively mobilise to resist the emergency rule.
“The people of Rivers State must take their fate into their own hands,” the statement read. “We must stand up together, organise, and force the government to reverse this anti-democratic action.”
With tensions escalating, the SWL’s bold stance adds to the mounting opposition against Tinubu’s decision, setting the stage for potential mass resistance in the days ahead.