Nigeria’s opposition coalition, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), has accused President Bola Tinubu of emerging as the ultimate beneficiary of the prolonged political crisis rocking Rivers State, as tensions between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara continue to escalate.
In a strongly worded statement, CUPP said the turmoil in Rivers State is neither accidental nor spontaneous, alleging that the state is being deliberately sacrificed on the altar of high-stakes political loyalty to the Presidency.
The coalition argued that two powerful figures—without naming them directly—have abandoned the responsibilities of leadership in favour of political survival, turning governance into a public contest of allegiance to President Tinubu.
“Rivers State is not disintegrating by chance. It is being consciously immolated as a political offering,” the statement said.
The remarks were contained in a statement signed by CUPP’s National Secretary, High Chief Peter Ameh, who described the situation as an “orchestrated tragedy” in which ordinary citizens are paying the highest price.
“In this shameful rivalry, the real victims are the people of Rivers State, whose peace, prosperity and democratic rights are being traded for personal relevance and political protection,” Ameh said.
CUPP noted that despite repeated interventions—including peace accords brokered by the Presidency and the declaration of emergency measures—the crisis has only tightened federal influence over political affairs in the oil-rich state.
According to the coalition, President Tinubu has effectively consolidated control, leaving both Wike and Fubara politically beholden to Abuja.
“President Tinubu is the clear winner in this battle. Both sides now answer to him,” Ameh stated, adding that the outcome has stripped Rivers State of independent political authority.
While the feuding camps may still appear locked in confrontation, CUPP argued that the standoff has already produced definitive losers—the people of Rivers State.
“Your state is under siege,” Ameh warned, citing stalled governance, weakened democratic institutions and the diversion of attention from development to endless political battles.
The coalition urged residents of Rivers State to remain vigilant and demand accountable leadership, calling for a shift away from personality-driven politics toward governance anchored on public welfare.
CUPP also cautioned that unchecked federal interference in state affairs poses a broader threat to Nigeria’s federal structure and democratic stability.
