President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the State House of Assembly.
The President, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, cited persistent political crises and constitutional breaches as the reasons for his decision.
“Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn of events in Rivers State. The political crisis has persisted to the point where democratic governance is no longer functional. The good people of Rivers State have been denied access to the dividends of democracy,” Tinubu stated.
According to him, the crisis escalated when Governor Fubara demolished the Rivers State House of Assembly in December 2023, rendering the legislative arm of the state inactive for over 14 months.
The President said despite his interventions and other stakeholders, the crisis remained unresolved.
“My efforts and those of well-meaning Nigerians to mediate have been ignored. This cannot continue,”
“A government cannot exist without the three arms of government as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. The head of the executive arm in Rivers State has chosen to collapse the legislature, governing as a despot. As it stands, there is no government in Rivers State.” Tinubu said.
The President said despite the court’s ruling to reinstate 27 members of the House of Assembly and pass an Appropriation Bill, the Governor failed to act, stating that security concerns have also heightened, with reports of pipeline vandalization and militant threats going unchecked.
“The Governor has shown no action to address these issues, further endangering the peace and security of Rivers State,” the President added.
Tinubu emphasized that his decision to declare a state of emergency was not taken lightly.
“Having soberly reflected on the situation and the failure of the Governor and Deputy Governor to address these crises, I am compelled by the Constitution to act. Effective today, the Governor, his deputy, and all members of the House of Assembly are suspended for an initial period of six months,” he announced.
President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as Administrator to oversee the affairs of Rivers State.
He assured that the judiciary would remain functional, and no new laws would be made.
“The Administrator will focus on regulations necessary to restore order, subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council and promulgation by the President,” Tinubu clarified.
The President called for peace and unity, expressing hope that this intervention would restore democratic governance in Rivers State.
