Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, has sharply criticised the political crisis in Rivers State, describing it as evidence that Nigeria’s political class is disconnected from the interests and welfare of ordinary citizens.
Agbakoba made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television on Monday, January 12, 2026, while reacting to the ongoing tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, as well as the impeachment threats in the state.
According to Agbakoba, the situation in Rivers State reflects a deeper governance failure across the country. He said, “What’s going on is a clear indication that our political class have no interest in Nigerians because I’ve not heard in any of all these disputes that these people understand that they are governing Nigeria and in particular Rivers people.”
He described the political developments in the state as chaotic, adding, “It’s a topsy-turvy situation in Rivers.” Tracing the origin of the crisis, Agbakoba said, “First, the governor was in PDP and Mr Wike was pursuing him. He now, you know, bent over backwards, resigned from PDP, went into APC. So what the hell is the problem? I just don’t understand it, except it’s a power fight for 2027. That’s clear.”
Agbakoba said the dispute goes beyond party politics and exposes systemic failure in governance. He stated, “But what is very painful and it leads to the reasons why you’ve invited me is that the entire governance failure in Nigeria, not just in the healthcare system, everywhere there’s failure.”
He accused political leaders of prioritising personal interests over national development, saying, “When you have people in power, in diverse political parties, rather than focus on Nigeria, they’re just interested in themselves.”
Clarifying his personal position, Agbakoba said he was not aligned with either camp in the Rivers crisis. “Why would there be an issue? I mean, I don’t support Wike or Fubara. I don’t care for any of them,” he said.
He questioned the logic of the ongoing conflict, particularly following Governor Fubara’s political realignment. “But if Fubara was elected on the PDP and it was forced out of the PDP into the APC, then what again is the issue? What’s the issue? It’s difficult to understand,” he said.
Agbakoba warned that the prolonged political battle was worsening the hardship faced by citizens. According to him, “These are issues that make Nigerians absolutely bleed with suffering and poverty.”
He appealed to political actors in Rivers State to remember their mandate, saying, “So could they just please kindly remember that they were elected by the votes of Rivers people and Rivers people will be terribly disappointed in what’s going on.”
Agbakoba further lamented that governance in the state appeared to have been reduced to a struggle between political elites. He said, “It’s as if no one exists in Rivers State except Fubara and Wike and the political people.”
Questioning the impeachment move against the governor, he concluded, “Well, what are the grounds of impeachment? It’s difficult to comprehend, honestly.”
