By Joel Aladele, Abuja

In a move aimed at restoring order and governance in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu yesterday declared a state of emergency, citing severe political instability and unprecedented challenges to democratic processes.

Tinubu made the proclamation during a nationwide broadcast, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy Ngozi Odu and all the members of the House of Assembly for an initial six months.

Consequently, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) has been appointed as the state’s interim military administrator, tasked with steering the region back to stability.

The president cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution while making the proclamation.

A state of emergency allows the President to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety.

For about two months, there seemed to be no end in sight in the protracted feud and power tussle between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and his estranged ex-political godson Fubara over the control of the political structure in the oil-rich Rivers State.

Pipelines have reportedly exploded in the state as the political tension heightened, with civil servants threatening mass protests against the Martins Amaewhule group in the House of Assembly loyal to Wike.

According to the President, the latest security reports made available show that “between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalisation 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.”

In view of the development, Tinubu therefore declared Fubara, his Deputy and elected lawmakers suspended for six months.

“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, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, 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.

He, however, said that for the avoidance of doubt, the declaration did not affect the judicial arm of the 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.

“It will awaken all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole,” he said

The President’s action followed a Supreme Court ruling that deemed Governor Fubara’s actions unconstitutional, declaring, “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.” The court found that Fubara’s unilateral decision to demolish the state legislature — a move made over a year ago — effectively rendered the governance structure in Rivers non-existent. The court’s judgment emphasized the need for immediate restoration of constitutional order in the state, further complicating the already fraught political landscape.

On May 18, 2004, President Olusegun Obasanjo declared state of emergency on Plateau State, suspending the elected Governor Joshua Dariye and the State House of Assembly in the process,  also citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.  He accused the governor of failing to act to end a cycle of bloodletting violence between the Plateau State’s Muslim and Christian communities that claimed over 2,000 lives since September 2001.

Similarly, President Goodluck Jonathan also declared a State of Emergency in some local governments in Borno and Plateau States in 2011 before full declaration in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States.

Too Early to Comment on Presidential Declaration – Rivers Govt

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has stated that it is too early to make comments on the presidential declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

President Bola Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast, yesterday, had suspended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, as well as the members of the State House of Assembly.

When contacted immediately after the declaration by the president, the Commissioner of Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, said it was too hasty for the government to take any position.

Johnson said: “The president has made a declaration and what do you think we can say. I think it is too hasty to make any comment about it.”