The Federal Government has firmly endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, asserting that this decisive action was necessary to prevent a potential collapse within the region. During a briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, emphasized the timeliness of the intervention.
Fagbemi articulated that the administration in Rivers has faced challenges for nearly two years and questioned when it would have been appropriate for the President to intervene. He reiterated that the President’s actions were proactive, allowing various stakeholders to address the issues at hand before they escalated further.
The declaration was made by President Tinubu, who suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months. In a national address, Tinubu cited factors such as persistent political instability, constitutional violations, and security threats as motivations behind this extraordinary measure.
The ongoing crisis in Rivers State has been fueled by a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. To oversee the state’s administration during this tumultuous period, the President has appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as the sole administrator. Ibas previously held the position of Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021.
Tinubu’s proclamation further clarified that the Governor and Deputy Governor had not formally requested this action as stipulated by the Constitution, making it necessary for him to invoke the relevant legal provisions. He reassured that the judicial arm of Rivers State will continue its operations in accordance with constitutional mandates.
