By Mohammed Bello Doka
In an unprecedented move aimed at restoring order in Rivers State, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire House of Assembly. The decision, announced in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, comes after months of political turmoil, judicial battles, and escalating security concerns in the oil-rich state.President Tinubu expressed deep frustration over the prolonged crisis, noting that despite multiple interventions, including his personal attempts at mediation, the state government had remained defiant, pushing Rivers into constitutional paralysis. He particularly condemned Governor Fubara’s decision to demolish the State House of Assembly in December 2023 and his refusal to rebuild it for over fourteen months, effectively crippling legislative functions.
Citing a February 28 Supreme Court ruling, which declared that Rivers lacked a functional government due to the collapse of its legislative arm, President Tinubu underscored the severity of the crisis. The ruling affirmed that the 27 defected lawmakers remained valid members of the Assembly, yet their roles were obstructed by Fubara’s faction. Despite the court’s directive to pass an appropriation bill, no action was taken, further deepening the impasse.
Compounding the crisis, President Tinubu highlighted intelligence reports of rising militant activity, including pipeline vandalization, with the governor failing to act against the perpetrators. “No responsible president will stand by and watch as a state descends into lawlessness,” Tinubu asserted, emphasizing that his decision was guided by constitutional provisions.
With immediate effect, Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator of Rivers State to oversee governance during the initial six-month emergency period. The judicial arm of the state, however, remains unaffected.
While this move is bound to spark legal and political debates, the president assured Nigerians that his intervention aims to restore peace, order, and constitutional governance in Rivers. The Federal Executive Council will oversee all regulatory actions taken by the administrator, ensuring that democracy is upheld even in this period of emergency governance.
As Rivers braces for this historic shift, all eyes remain on the National Assembly and political stakeholders as they deliberate on the next steps in what is shaping up to be one of Nigeria’s most dramatic political showdowns in recent history.