President Tinubu Suspends Fubara, Declares State of Emergency in Rivers State

In a bold move to address the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months.

This proclamation was made during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, citing the need to restore order and governance in the oil-rich state.

For months, Rivers State has been embroiled in a deep political crisis stemming from a power struggle between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his former protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The conflict has intensified, leading to increasing unrest, legislative disputes, and concerns over security.

Recent reports indicate that pipelines have been vandalized as tensions escalated, with militant activities causing widespread fear.

Civil servants have also threatened mass protests against the faction of the State House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, a known ally of Wike. Amidst the growing instability, President Tinubu deemed it necessary to intervene decisively.

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Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the President to declare a state of emergency in situations that threaten national security, Tinubu emphasized that his decision was imperative given the worsening state of affairs in Rivers.

“The latest security reports available to me indicate alarming incidents of pipeline vandalism, and yet, no concrete action has been taken by the governor to curb these threats. As a responsible leader, I cannot stand by and allow this situation to deteriorate further,” Tinubu stated during his address.

He further highlighted that since the Governor and his deputy failed to formally request federal intervention, as stipulated in Section 305(5) of the Constitution, the federal government had no choice but to step in for the sake of stability and public safety.

With this declaration, the Governor, Deputy Governor, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are suspended for an initial period of six months. In their place, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) has been appointed as the Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.

Unlike past emergency declarations, the judiciary will continue to operate without interference. While the Administrator will not have the authority to enact new laws, he may propose necessary regulations subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council and promulgation by the President. The declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette and forwarded to the National Assembly for legislative oversight.