Otunba (Dr) Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo to Wike: ‘Don’t Push the Masses to the Breaking Point’

The Honourable Minister,
Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
[Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria]

OPEN LETTER: URGENT CALL TO CAUTION, DEMOCRATIC RESTRAINT, AND THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE IN RIVERS STATE AND NIGERIA.

Honourable Minister,

I am writing this formal letter to express deep concern regarding the escalating political tension, rhetoric, and actions associated with your political engagements in Rivers State and across the nation.

As a public official serving at the federal level, your utterances and actions carry significant weight, and the current trajectory poses a severe threat to public peace and democratic stability.
We must urgently draw your attention to several critical areas that require immediate restraint:

*Rhetoric and Public Demeanour: The increasingly confrontational and aggressive tone used during public addresses is widely perceived as dismissive of democratic norms. Public leadership requires a commitment to humility, decorum, and constructive engagement rather than intimidation.

Alleged Use of Security Apparatus:

There are growing, widespread concerns regarding the perceived weaponisation of the Nigeria Police Force and the military to suppress opposition parties, voices, and candidates. The state’s security apparatus exists to protect all citizens equally, not to be deployed as a political tool for partisan dominance or victimisation.

Political Thuggery and Lawlessness: The continuous reliance on hostile political tactics and localised disruption undermines the rule of law. Cultivating an environment where political thuggery is tolerated risks plunging communities into anarchy.

A Critical Warning on Mass Unrest
It is vital to understand that the patience of the populace is not infinite. When citizens repeatedly witness the abuse of institutional power, the silencing of opposition, and a blatant disregard for peaceful democratic processes, public trust completely erodes.

If these aggressive political strategies and the misuse of security forces do not cease immediately, there is an imminent risk that the masses will be pushed to a breaking point. Defying the rule of law inevitably invites the public to reject legal channels entirely, leading to civil unrest, spontaneous retaliatory actions, and situations where individuals take the law into their own hands.

For the preservation of your political legacy, the safety of the citizens of Rivers State, and the overarching security of Nigeria, you are strongly advised to de-escalate, adhere strictly to constitutional boundaries, and allow democratic opposition to exist without fear of harassment.

We trust that you will reflect on these issues with the gravity they deserve and choose a path of peace and statesmanship.

Yours faithfully,
Otunba (DR) Babatunde Olushola Senbanjo (BOS)