Tinubu Declares State of Emergency in Rivers and Suspends Fubara

 President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to the ongoing political crisis in the region. The announcement was made during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, during which he also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for a period of six months.

To oversee the state's affairs during this period, Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as the administrator. The president invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to make this declaration, which allows for the suspension of normal constitutional procedures in situations of national danger or disaster in order to restore control.

The state of emergency enables the president to implement necessary regulations to ensure public order and safety. Tinubu’s decision follows escalating tensions in Rivers State, including pipeline explosions and mounting civil unrest. Despite these issues, the governor has not taken adequate action to address the crisis.

In his address, Tinubu stated, “Recent security reports indicate disturbing incidents of pipeline vandalism by militants, with no response from the state government. Given these challenges, no responsible president would stand by without taking the necessary constitutional steps to address this grave situation and restore governance, peace, and security.”

Tinubu further emphasized that the declaration was made after careful consideration, noting that both the governor and deputy governor failed to request such action as required under the Constitution. He also clarified that the judicial arm of the state would remain unaffected by the declaration, and the appointed administrator would not create new laws but could introduce regulations subject to federal approval.

This decision has been published in the Federal Gazette and shared with the National Assembly as per constitutional requirements. Tinubu expressed hope that this intervention would bring stability to Rivers State and remind political leaders of their constitutional duties.