The United States Chapter of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a dangerous plot to subjugate Rivers State under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The pro-democracy group has called on Nigerians—especially the people of Rivers State—to actively resist what it sees as a creeping dictatorship orchestrated by Tinubu and enforced by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday by its President and CEO, Lloyd Ukwu, Esq., NADECO declared that President Tinubu’s governance style is purely transactional, driven by wealth accumulation and political control. The statement, titled “Tinubu as a Desperate Transactional President and Wike as His Enforcer-in-Chief: A Clear and Present Danger to Nigeria’s Democracy,” accused Tinubu of using Wike as a battering ram to destabilize Rivers State and undermine the authority of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
According to NADECO, Tinubu’s longstanding reputation as a power-hungry political operator has found a willing accomplice in Wike, whose own ambitions align perfectly with the President’s agenda.
“Tinubu has always been a transactional leader, fixated on power and wealth. His alliance with Wike is not a coincidence but a strategic partnership aimed at consolidating control over Rivers State and, ultimately, Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections,” the group stated.
NADECO likened Tinubu’s leadership style to that of former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom it accused of prioritizing personal interests over democratic values. The group further alleged that Tinubu is testing the resolve of Nigerians by pushing the boundaries of constitutional governance, knowing that a passive citizenry would allow him to operate unchecked.
The coalition lambasted Wike, describing him as the “enforcer-in-chief” of Tinubu’s autocratic aspirations. NADECO accused the former Rivers governor of employing strong-arm tactics to undermine Governor Fubara’s administration, reduce the state’s democratic institutions to mere puppets, and create an atmosphere of political instability.
“Wike, now serving as Tinubu’s proxy, has been instrumental in dismantling democratic gains in Rivers State. His actions are not about governance but about amassing power and resources for himself and his political godfather,” the statement read.
The crisis in Rivers State, NADECO argued, reflects a broader pattern of authoritarian governance under Tinubu. The group noted that the Rivers State House of Assembly, much like Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s National Assembly and Justice Kekere-Ekun’s judiciary, has become a mere pawn in the President’s grand scheme of political control.
NADECO warned that what is happening in Rivers State is not isolated. The group pointed to Lagos, where it claims Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu operates under Tinubu’s shadow, prioritizing the President’s interests over the welfare of Lagosians. This culture of impunity, NADECO asserted, is systematically eroding Nigeria’s democracy, perpetuating corruption, and deepening governance failures.
“From Rivers to Lagos and beyond, Tinubu’s administration is fostering a political environment where loyalty to him takes precedence over accountability to the people,” the group stated.
Calling on Nigerians to take a stand, NADECO urged the people of Rivers State to resist what it termed an “imminent state capture.” It stressed that citizens must demand transparency, accountability, and an end to political recklessness.
The group also criticized Nigeria’s judiciary, accusing it of becoming a “rubber stamp” for the executive’s excesses. It called for urgent judicial reforms to insulate the courts from political interference, improve funding, enhance judicial training, and promote greater transparency in legal processes.
NADECO also highlighted the plight of the Ijaw people in Rivers State, who have appealed to President Tinubu to rein in Wike’s alleged excesses in Kalabari land. However, the group expressed skepticism about Tinubu’s willingness to act, given his deep political ties to Wike.
The pro-democracy coalition concluded its statement with a powerful quote from Frederick Douglass:
“A slave who does not fight for his freedom and who refuses to rise against bondage will always remain a slave.”
NADECO urged Nigerians to rise against corruption, impunity, and the hijacking of democratic institutions before it is too late. It emphasized that the unfolding crisis in Rivers State should serve as a wake-up call for all Nigerians who care about the future of democracy in the country.
The question now, NADECO warned, is whether Nigerians will resist this creeping authoritarianism—or surrender to it without a fight.
PIONEER NEWS 