IDNN Politics Desk
Independence Day, Divided States
Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary was intended as a day of unity. Instead, it exposed the fragility of the federation. From Rivers to Kano to Edo, governors and traditional institutions clashed with federal law, police authority, and cultural impositions. The symbolism was stark: even as President Bola Tinubu preached hope and milestones in Abuja, the states displayed a very different narrative — one of disunion.
Rivers: Cabinet Sacked in Supreme Court Fallout
In Rivers, Governor Siminalayi Fubara dissolved his cabinet in response to a February Supreme Court ruling that voided approvals by the pro-Fubara Oko-Jumbo faction of the state assembly. The court recognised the rival Martin Amaewhule-led assembly, loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, rendering Fubara’s previous commissioners invalid. The decision is the latest in a bruising two-year battle between governor and predecessor.
During a valedictory session with dismissed cabinet members, Fubara framed his move as constitutional compliance. Yet it underscored his weakened grip, with the Supreme Court aligning with his rival. The broader ripple: a reminder that Rivers’ political crisis — already severe enough to trigger emergency rule in March — remains unresolved despite Tinubu’s intervention.
Related News-Rivers Political Crisis Deepens: Speaker Demands Mass Sacking of Fubara’s Commissioners
Kano: Parade Without Police
In Kano, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf publicly condemned Police Commissioner Ibrahim Adamu Bakori for boycotting the Independence parade. The governor described the move as “unethical and partisan,” accusing Bakori of embarrassing Kano on a national holiday. “As Chief Security Officer of this state, I condemn this disloyalty to the Federal Republic,” Yusuf declared.
The police command’s absence was seen as political: Yusuf belongs to the NNPP, in opposition to federal ruling interests. The episode inflamed long-running tensions over security control — constitutionally federal, yet politically contested in practice. For Kano citizens, it raised fears that policing had become a tool of political loyalty rather than law.
Edo: Oba vs Iyaloja
In Benin City, the fault line was cultural. Oba Ewuare II rebuffed the attempt by Iyaloja General Folashade Tinubu-Ojo to inaugurate a state-wide Iyaloja structure. The monarch declared the concept “alien” to Benin, affirming that traditional Iyeki market leaders are confirmed only by the palace. “Every Iyeki has cultural roles in the shrine on behalf of the Oba,” he said, insisting that Benin markets cannot be subsumed under an external structure.
The confrontation pits national political influence — carried by the president’s daughter — against one of Nigeria’s oldest traditional institutions. The Oba’s statement signals both cultural assertion and resistance to federal overreach.
Ripple Snapshot: Three Crises, One Message
- Rivers: Courts dictate governance; emergency rule shadows linger.
- Kano: Police authority questioned; federal vs state loyalty clash.
- Edo: Traditional autonomy confronts modern political imposition.
Together, they show a federation where centre and periphery constantly grind against each other, even on a symbolic day of national unity.
Governance Stability at Risk
For investors and citizens, the independence crises raise red flags. Political uncertainty in oil-rich Rivers, policing disputes in populous Kano, and cultural tension in Edo add to Nigeria’s perception of instability. While federal reforms may attract capital, state-level volatility threatens to erode confidence in governance continuity.
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