President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Declares State of Emergency in Rivers State
In a televised broadcast, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, effective immediately, due to the prolonged political crisis that has crippled governance and threatened peace and security in the state.
The President expressed deep concern over the escalating situation, which has left the state at a standstill and deprived its citizens of the dividends of democracy. Despite numerous interventions, the contending parties have refused to resolve the crisis, leading to a complete breakdown of governance.
The crisis reached a critical point with the Supreme Court’s recent judgment condemning the unconstitutional actions of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the collapse of the state’s legislative arm. The court declared that “a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended.”
Key Highlights of the Declaration:
- Suspension of Governor and Deputy Governor: Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been suspended for an initial period of six months.
- Appointment of Administrator: Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) has been nominated as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state.
- Regulatory Powers: The Administrator will not make new laws but can formulate regulations, subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council and promulgation by the President.
- Judicial Arm: The judicial arm of Rivers State will continue to function independently in line with its constitutional mandate.
The declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette and forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. President Tinubu expressed hope that this intervention will help restore peace and order in Rivers State.
