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.

GOV FUBARA PLEDGES LOYALTY TO PRESIDENT TINUBU IN POST-EMERGENCY RULE STATE BROADCAST

"To those who have expressed genuine fears, frustrations, and uncertainty over the nature of the peace process, I assure you that your concerns are valid and understood. However, nothing has been irretrievably lost; there remains ample opportunity for necessary adjustments, continued reconciliation"

POLICE DETAINS NOTORIOUS LAGOS ISLAND UNION LEADER FOR MUTLTIPLE ASSAULT, MURDER

OLADITI, also known as SHAMELON, is being detained at State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti-Yaba, for discreet investigation.

NDLEA MOURNS CROSS RIVER COMMANDER, OGBONNA MAURICE

Narcotic Commander UZOMA slumped and died in a hotel where he had taken up temporary residence, one month he resumed duty in Calabar on August 18, 2025.

ABIA STATE JUDICIAL PANEL ON RECOVERY OF PROPERTIES, FUNDS SUBMITS REPORT

Chairman of the panel, retired Justice FLORENCE DUROHA-IGWE, said the Judicial Panel received about three hundred and fifty petitions and memoranda, out of which two hundred and seventy-eight were considered.

ATIKU KNOCKS TINUBU OVER RIVERS EMERGENCY, SAYS IT'S SIGN OF DICTATORSHIP

Writing in a post on his social media handle, ATIKU ABUBAKAR maintained that President BOLA TINUBU acted in violation of the when he initially imposed a state of emergency in Rivers.

GOV FUBARA RETURNS, AS PRESIDENT TINUBU LIFTS STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE

The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025.