RIVERS STATE DESCENDS INTO EMERGENCY RULE, WITH GOV FUBARA SUSPENDED, IBOK ETE IBAS STEPS IN AS SOLE ADMINISTRATOR

March 18, 2025, 6:55 p.m.

President BOLA AHMED TINUBU has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State for six months, effectively suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara from office. President Tinubu announced the emergency proclamation in a nationwide broadcast, citing provisions under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. President Tinubu also suspended the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Ngozi Ordu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The President announced the appointed Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (Rtd) as Sole Administrator of Rivers State for six months in the first instance. During the period of the emergency, President Tinubu said that the Sole Administrator will not make any new laws. Instead, he said the Sole Administration would be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job. He said such regulations would need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state. However, President Bola Tinubu said that the emergency declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with its constitutional mandate. The President’s move is in response to the protracted political crisis in Rivers State, between Governor Fubara and the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, who are backed by former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. President Tinubu referred to the recent Supreme Court judgment where some orders were made to restore constitutional governance in Rivers State, including the passage of the 2025 Budget, which he said was yet to be done. President Bola Tinubu noted that “some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.” President Tinubu said apart from that both the House and the Governor have not been able to work together, both do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state. The President said the latest security reports made available to him showed that there had been disturbing incidents of vandalism of petrol pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. He said he had given stern orders to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.

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