Influential lawmaker declares ‘Nigeria is finished’ amid political crisis in Rivers

In a stark warning amidst a deepening political crisis in Rivers State, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, a member of the House of Representatives, declared on Monday that “Nigeria is finished.”

This alarming statement follows allegations that supporters of a serving minister in President Bola Tinubu’s government are involved in the burning of a government headquarters, with police failing to intervene.

Unrest in Rivers has escalated since last Saturday’s Local Government elections. Reports indicate that a section of the Eleme Local Government secretariat was set ablaze shortly after the newly elected chairman, Brian Gokpa, took office. Ugochinyere took to his X handle, expressing grave concerns about the implications of such actions.

“Supporters of a serving minister in Tinubu’s government are alleged to be busy burning headquarters of another arm of government, and the police have not stopped them,” he stated.

He urged President Tinubu to recognize the seriousness of the situation, recalling that Nigeria had faced similar crises in the past, with significant consequences.

“Mr. President, do you know what this means? Nigeria has worked paths like this before, and the consequences were enormous,” he added, calling for an end to the “madness” he attributes to the minister’s supporters.

Ugochinyere emphasized that the newly elected local government chairmen are legitimate and cannot be removed by the actions of any group, asserting, “Rivers people and Nigerians are recording all these for you.”