State of Emergency in Rivers a reflection of British exploitation of the Benin Kingdom, says Edo PDP chief
Patrick Okohue
A frontline member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, and a good governance advocate, Dr. Ross Erazelle Agazuma, has described the recent declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State and subsequent dismantling of its democratic governance structures by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a potential replay of the British invasion, occupation and exploitation of the Benin Kingdom in 1897.
Agazuma noted that the Rivers State of emergency has reignited fears of resource exploitation reminiscent of colonial aggression. “This controversial federal intervention, now widely regarded as unconstitutional, mirrors historical incidents, notably the British invasion and occupation of the Benin Kingdom in 1897.
“Much like the British colonial agenda, the recent events in Rivers State suggest motives deeply intertwined with economic exploitation, particularly targeting the state’s vast oil and gas resources.
“In 1897, British forces invaded the sovereign Benin Kingdom under the guise of retaliation and restoration of order, but historians widely agree that the true motive behind this invasion was economic exploitation and plunder. The kingdom, then one of Africa’s most prosperous territories, was systematically looted of its priceless artifacts and economic resources.
“Similarly, in contemporary Nigeria, Rivers State, the epicenter of the nation’s petroleum industry is seemingly facing a modern equivalent of that historical invasion,” he noted.
According the Edo PDP chief, “the Federal Government’s abrupt dismantling of Rivers State’s democratically elected institutions, replacing the state governor and political appointees with a Sole Administrator, directly accountable to Abuja, echoes historical colonial administrative structures designed solely for economic extraction.
“Immediately following the declaration of a State of Emergency, the new Sole Administrator swiftly sacked all state political appointees, effectively severing local political representation and authority.
“This controversial move has drawn intense criticism from political analysts and civil society organisations, who have argued that the real purpose of imposing federal control on Rivers State is not about peacekeeping or security, but rather about asserting total federal dominance over the state’s abundant natural resources, especially its oil reserves.”
He noted that since Rivers State is home to substantial petroleum reserves, including the long-dormant Ogoni oil fields. “These fields, inactive since 1993 following massive environmental protests and international scrutiny, represent enormous economic potential for the Federal Government. Observers fear that federal control under the current emergency measures could lead to the forcible reopening and exploitation of the Ogoni oil fields, regardless of longstanding environmental and community concerns.
“Much like the British colonial plundering of the Benin Kingdom, which bypassed local governance structures to funnel wealth directly to London, this new arrangement similarly displaces local governance, placing resource-rich Rivers State firmly in the hands of federal administrators in Abuja. With the Sole Administrator answerable only to President Tinubu, Rivers people have lost direct accountability and representation at a time when local governance is most essential.
“Historically, colonialism thrived by dismantling indigenous democratic and governance structures, imposing foreign authority, and exploiting resources without local consent. In a distressing parallel, Rivers State has now lost its democratic governor, replaced by an unelected official accountable solely to a distant federal administration.
“This scenario effectively denies Rivers citizens democratic agency, participation, and accountability in governance, relegating them to passive spectators as their resources are potentially exploited,” he added.
