A Musician’s Political Intervention
Dr Alban Unoma Nwapa, the iconic musician behind 90s hits like “No Coke” and “Born in Africa,” has entered the political fray with sharp criticism of the federal government’s approach to the Rivers State crisis. In an impassioned address to journalists in Abuja, the superstar condemned Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency as unconstitutional and wasteful.
“The President should’ve called Wike to order rather than declare a State of Emergency on Rivers,” Alban stated. “Calling Wike to order would’ve been the sensible thing to do because he is the reason we got into this whole mess in the first place!”
The Core of the Controversy
The crisis stems from the power struggle between Governor Sim Fubara and his predecessor Wike, which led to:
- The emergence of parallel State Assembly factions
- Supreme Court intervention ordering budget re-presentation
- Physical blockade preventing Fubara from accessing the Assembly
- Eventual suspension of elected officials including Fubara
Alban particularly criticized the unequal treatment of both parties: “Fubara was democratically elected while Wike is just a minister with no electoral value in his state. Yet nobody has mentioned Wike’s name in all these punishments!”
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Constitutional and Financial Concerns
The musician turned activist raised several critical issues:
- Legal Overreach:
“Slamming state of Emergency on Rivers has totally decimated the democratic structure… You suspended both the governor and his deputy, even when you do not have the constitutional power to do so.” - Financial Burden:
“The almost 10,000 soldiers deployed will be paid heavily… all at taxpayers’ expense! It’s much cheaper to call Wike to order.” - Legislative Abdication:
“This voice voting to determine 2/3rd is daylight robbery… A state with millions of voters and they did this? It’s madness.”
Broader Democratic Implications
Alban warned that Tinubu’s actions set a dangerous precedent:
“Now any governor can wake up to find the President doesn’t like their face and get suspended! Is that the Nigeria we want?”
He expressed particular dismay at the National Assembly’s role: “We know they do unthinkable things, but this voice vote shocked me. They didn’t even care about consequences.”
The Road Ahead
The music icon suggested the crisis will have lasting damage:
“The heavy damage to Rivers’ democratic setup is painful. It will take years to recover from this setback.”
His comments reflect growing concerns among civil society about:
- Erosion of democratic norms
- Weaponization of emergency powers
- The disproportionate influence of unelected officials
An Unlikely Voice for Democracy
Dr Alban’s intervention highlights how the Rivers crisis has galvanized unexpected voices in defense of constitutional democracy. His critique underscores the need for:
- Proportional responses to political disputes
- Equal application of accountability
- Protection of democratic institutions
As the six-month emergency period begins, all eyes remain on Rivers State and the administration’s next moves.
