*Suspends Fubara, Deputy, lawmakers
*Nominates Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd) as adminstrator
By Obaike Odihue
President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, following the protracted political crisis that has been rocking the state for over a year.
In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu lamented the state of lawlessness in the Rivers despite several interventions to restore peace and order by prominent groups and individuals.
He said his administration which has been watching the development in the state closely has no option but to take necessary action to curtail the disturbing trend, citing the resort to vandalism of oil pipelines as a consequence of the raging crisis.
By the emergency declaration, the President said, Governor Siminilayi and his deputy Ngozi Odu as well as the State Assembky has been suspended for an initial period of six months.
Tinubu also announced Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd) as the administrator to take charge of Rivers while the state of emergency lasts.
Tinubu said: “In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.”
The president said the Administrator will not make any new laws. “He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.”
He added: “This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”
Recall that the Supreme Court had on February 28 ruled that the 27 lawmakers who are said to be loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike to resume sitting, saying that there can not be said to be government in a state when all the arms are not functioning.
Following the judgement of the apex court, the 27 lawmakers gave a 48-hours ultimatum for the governor to present the Appropriation Bill for the its scrutiny.
However, the Governor was reportedly locked out of the Assembly complex on the day he wanted to do the budget presentation, and went ahead to issue him an impeachment notice.
President Tinubu in the broadcast noted that “With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.
“Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.
“The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated.
“Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.
“Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together.
“Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.
“The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.
“With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.”
