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Tinubu Acted Timely, Stopped Rivers Collapse – FG Defends Emergency Rule

Published

1 month ago

Mar 19, 2025.

FG defends Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers State was necessary.
Governor Fubara, deputy, and lawmakers suspended for six months.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas appointed as sole administrator.

The Federal Government has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as a necessary move to prevent a total breakdown of governance in the state.

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, made this assertion on Wednesday while briefing State House Correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

“We have about two years into the administration in the state. Now, when do you think he (President Tinubu) should have come in? Is it when everything has been destroyed? I don’t think so.

“I think the President has acted timeously. He has given the opportunity to all the parties involved to make amends. Before then, he had to assemble them, and he had tried to mediate,” Fagbemi stated.

On Tuesday, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as reasons for the decision. The crisis, which has crippled governance in the oil-rich state, stems from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

To oversee the state’s affairs, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator. Ibas, who served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is expected to restore normalcy.

FG Defends Emergency Rule

“In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State have 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, March 18, 2025, and I so do,” Tinubu declared.

“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 Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) 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.”