Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television, Soyinka described the move as excessive.

Tinubu declared the emergency rule in the oil-rich state on Tuesday night, citing political crisis and instability. He also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

In Fubara’s absence, the president appointed retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator.