Arise Television anchor Rufai Oseni has voiced strong criticism of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara shortly after his return to full duties following a six month emergency rule Oseni accused the governor of celebrating what he described as a peace of the graveyard According to him the peace being celebrated is not genuine but one that comes from being subdued and silenced He argued that such peace is hollow lifeless and forced rather than earned through strength or genuine leadership .
Background of the Emergency Rule
Governor Fubara was placed under a six month emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu During this period there were calls on Fubara to challenge the constitutionality of the decision in court He however resisted such pressures and instead chose to cooperate with the federal government According to Fubara he refused to go to court because he believed that challenging the declaration would harm peace stability and progress in Rivers State He accepted the suspension and decided to prioritize calm over confrontation .
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When the emergency rule ended Fubara returned to office and addressed the people of Rivers State in a statewide broadcast He urged citizens to reflect on the lessons of the past months One of his most quoted remarks was that the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war With this statement he emphasized that even peace that comes with sacrifice is preferable to conflict that could destabilize the state .
The Peace of the Graveyard Allegation
Oseni rejected the governors perspective describing the peace as peace of the graveyard He argued that Fubara was not celebrating peace that came from victory or strong leadership but one that resulted from being pressured into silence In his words Fubara had been bullied and subdued Oseni also added that Fubaras new statements contradict his earlier remarks and urged the public to play back all his past speeches to highlight the inconsistency .
Key Quotes from Both Sides
Oseni said Fubara is celebrating peace of the graveyard after he has been bullied and subdued He also noted that the governor now says peace is better than war but insisted that people should revisit his earlier statements to see the contradictions .
Fubara on his part explained his decision with the phrase the costliest peace is cheaper than the cheapest war He maintained that he chose not to drag the federal government to court because he believed it was in the best interest of peace stability and progress for the state .
Issues Raised and Implications
The situation raises important questions about governance and leadership Oseni’s criticism points to the tension between legitimacy and stability Should a leader prioritize peace even if it means conceding to pressure or should the leader fight for constitutional integrity at the risk of conflict and instability .
Public perception is another key issue By framing the peace as that of the graveyard Oseni suggests that people may view Fubaras actions as weakness rather than wisdom Leaders are often judged not only by outcomes but by the strength they show under pressure A peace gained by submission could be interpreted as cowardice and might affect political trust and credibility .
Another implication is the choice between legal and political responses Fubara avoided litigation and chose political pragmatism For some this was a wise decision to prevent further turmoil but for others it looked like a compromise of principles and a precedent that could allow future overreach of power Oseni’s stance clearly aligns with the latter interpretation .
Reactions and Broader Context
While Oseni’s remarks have attracted attention it is still unclear how residents of Rivers State perceive Fubaras decision Questions remain about whether his people will see him as a leader who sacrificed for peace or as one who surrendered under pressure It is also uncertain whether Oseni’s criticism will push the governor to clarify his narrative or adjust his approach .
This episode unfolds within a broader Nigerian political climate where emergency powers executive actions and federal state relations are frequent points of tension The balance between maintaining stability and upholding democratic norms continues to challenge political leaders across the country .
Conclusion
Rufai Oseni’s description of Fubaras leadership as celebrating peace of the graveyard stands out as a powerful critique It portrays the governors peace as one born out of pressure and loss of autonomy rather than strength or success Fubara on the other hand maintains that his actions were guided by the need to preserve peace stability and progress during a turbulent time Whether this peace is embraced as genuine by the public or dismissed as hollow will depend on how the governor leads moving forward and how consistent his actions are with his declared values .