NEWS
TEXT OF THE BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES, DECLARING STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE ON TUESDAY 18 MARCH 2025
Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.
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.
On February 28, 2025, the supreme court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms:
“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. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.”
The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected
“are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members”
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.
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 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.
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.
Long live a united, peaceful, secure and democratic Rivers State in particular and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.
The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Sen. David Mark, has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to insist on transparent and credible elections in Nigeria.
Mark made the call on Thursday in Abuja while receiving an ECOWAS delegation on a pre-election fact-finding mission ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC leadership expressed concerns over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) preparedness and commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections during the meeting with the delegation.
Mark said Nigeria’s elections were critical to West Africa’s stability and would attract global attention, emphasising the need for stakeholders to work together to ensure credible electoral outcomes.
“This is why we must all work together to ensure we get it right. You have made us understand that your mission is pursuant to the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework.
“We are quite happy with this. But the best way to prevent conflict, especially in relation to elections, is to ensure that it is free, fair and transparent,” he said.
Mark said the ADC was committed to peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections, urging ECOWAS to support efforts to ensure credible electoral processes.
“We in the ADC have committed ourselves to the highest standards of peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections. But we need ECOWAS to join us in insisting on a credible election now.
“We want the same thing: a peaceful and stable Nigeria and West Africa. This is why you must tell INEC that they must not do anything that could plunge Nigeria into a needless crisis.
“This must form part of your early warning signals,” he added.
The Head of Mission and former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Victor Bockarie Foe, said the mission aimed to assess Nigeria’s preparedness for credible elections and the political atmosphere ahead of the polls.
Foe promised to convey the party’s concerns, alongside those of other stakeholders, to the regional body, emphasising Nigeria’s importance to peace and stability across West Africa.
Other members of the ECOWAS mission included Francess Piage Alghali, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Julius Fofanah Sandy, representing the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives’ Committee; and Segrine Mamadou, Head of Electoral Assistance Division.
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has promised emergency measures to tackle insecurity, corruption, hunger and poverty, if elected.
Obi made the promise on Thursday during an interactive town hall meeting with a large crowd of supporters across party lines in Abakaliki.
The former Anambra governor said that Nigeria required purposeful leadership to achieve sustainable development, adding that he possessed the character, experience and capacity to lead the country.
He said that Nigeria had vast arable land and other resources that could transform its economy if properly harnessed.
According to him, the country must shift from consumption to production, particularly through agriculture and other productive sectors.
On the Federal Government’s borrowing, Obi said taking loans was not inherently wrong but became problematic when the funds were used for consumption rather than productive investments.
“It becomes wrong when the government borrows to buy a yacht, presidential plane and for consumption purposes,” he said.
He pledged that his administration would ensure transparency in public borrowing, insisting that Nigerians must know why loans were obtained and how the funds would be utilised.
On security, the presidential candidate promised to deploy modern technology and other effective measures to tackle insecurity and guarantee the safety of citizens across the country, irrespective of their locations.
Obi also vowed that anyone found guilty of corruption, including the President, would face prosecution and imprisonment in accordance with the law.
He said his vision was to build a Nigeria where citizens could achieve their aspirations through merit rather than personal connections.
“My dream is to see a Nigeria where the son of a nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody,” he added.
Obi, who expressed excitement over the turnout at the meeting, described himself as the most credible among the three leading presidential candidates.
He cited President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and himself as the leading contenders.
He urged Nigerians to participate actively in the forthcoming election and protect their votes.
“You should vote for me because I am the most credible candidate among the leading candidates for the presidency,” he said.
Obi expressed optimism that Nigeria could achieve meaningful transformation under credible leadership, pledging to provide such leadership if elected. (NAN)
Afrobeats star Mr Eazi has claimed that English club Chelsea FC wanted to sign him before they signed former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel.
Mr Eazi disclosed this during an interview on Wednesday.
The singer said both he and Mikel were linked to a possible move to Chelsea at the time, but he opted to pursue music instead.
“They were gonna sign me.
So, it was like Mikel Obi and me,” he stated.He explained that he thought Mikel was better suited to football, while he had a future in music.
“I just thought that Mikel Obi is not; he doesn’t have talent as a musician.
But I can do that. So I let Mikel go to Chelsea,” he said.Mr Eazi linked the decision to his philosophy in the music industry, where he sometimes steps back so others can shine.
“So with this, with the music too, I had to, like, step back, go make a couple billions and then let other people shine,” he added.
He also cited fellow singer Seyi Vibez, whom he jokingly called a great Nigerian philosopher, for popularising the phrase ‘Let your brother shine’, noting that he is comfortable allowing others to take the spotlight while focusing on his own goals.
Mikel eventually joined Chelsea in 2006 and spent 11 years at the club, winning two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the UEFA Champions League in 2012.
Mr Eazi has since become one of Africa’s most successful music exports, with a career spanning Afrobeats hit, business ventures, and contributions to the genre’s global growth.
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