NewStats: 3,259,340 , 8,169,855 topics. Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025 at 06:13 PM 6x2467

President Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers, Suspends Governor Fubara, House of Assembly

Text of the Broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, declaring State of Emergency in Rivers state on Tuesday 18 March 2025

Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.

With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.

Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the  House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.

On February 28, 2025, the supreme court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear :

“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. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.”

The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 of the House who had allegedly defected

“are still valid of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four ”

The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy.  These orders include the immediate ing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated.

Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.

Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together. Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.

The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization 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.

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, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected 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 iral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.

The 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 by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

Long live a united, peaceful, secure and democratic Rivers State in particular and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.

Hahahahahahaaha.. it's official .. his 2027 ambition is now dead on arrival

as in king of kings naaa
yeroba people sha

At least, now we all go rest. We go fit drink water drop cup on top the Rivers matter.

Criminal.

What about herdsmen killing, the dumb president didn't say anything

God will punish him, herdsmen nothing from him

Hmmm

It was inevitable!

GboyegaD:
At least, now we all go rest. We go fit drink water drop cup on top the Rivers matter.

I tell you

Hmmm

mohbadliveson:
Tinubu sacks Governor Siminalayi Fubara and deputy

Appoints iral Ibok Ete Ibas as sole


With effect from today

All elected officials,and not just the governor and deputy has been suspended for a period of 6 months

Wow was not expecting this

mohbadliveson:
Tinubu sacks Governor Siminalayi Fubara and deputy

Appoints iral Ibok Ete Ibas as sole


With effect from today

pipelines will be broken more. Even the army will the niger delta freedom fighters in breaking the pipelines and destroying the economy of Nigeria. Wike will destroy this government more

commoditiesnig:

I tell you

At least now, Wike go rest small. The House of Assembly can now rest too. They wouldn't want rest for themselves and now they are forced to go and rest.

A good move by the president. Fubara and the lawmakers can decide to work hand in hand or get suspended till 2027

mohbadliveson:
Tinubu sacks Governor Siminalayi Fubara and deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu

Appoints iral Ibok Ete Ibas as sole


With effect from today

He didn't sack them, he suspended the governor, deputy governor and lawmakers for 6 month

Let us see how they will continue their fight outside government House.
They are both lossers only Wike is a winner now because he still remains as minister of the federal government.

Tinubu is so predictable.... All of these because of 2027..Behaving like a military dictator. Abeg are we in Military regime?
What a crooked, corrupt, despotic, subversive old man. Tinubu you may not die well at this rate..

Since you decide to destroy all our democratic institutions all because you want Wike to have control of the political structure of Riverstate being a PDP state, so that he can rig for you the way he rigged 2023 election for u.... Nonsense, imagine a con fraudulent man like Tinubu quoting Constitution...

Make everybody kuku go rest

Who else saw that movie?...this na part 2

What is this!!!

Jonathan was really very soft!

just2endowed:
Criminal.

What about herdsmen killing, the dumb president didn't say anything

And he didn't declare state of Emergency in the affected States, even with the bloodshed. But Rivers has at least not recorded killings, yet he just handed it over to a military man

GboyegaD:


At least now, Wike go rest small. The House of Assembly can now rest too. They wouldn't want rest for themselves and now they are forced to go and rest.

In Nigeria? They wont rest!

Why did Tinubu even using a retired officer and not a service officer?
The man is more like a Civilian in power.

Anyways, na this kind of fights dey make smaller parties win elections

Fubara suspended.

Assembly suspended!!

Tinubu cannot feign ignorance of the prominent role of Wike in all of these..

Why is Wike not sacked?

The emergency rule doesn't cover Wike but if Tinubu has any aota of honour or integrity he has to remove Wike.

Why no state of emergency in Zamfara,Yobe,Borno etc?Meanwhile,That iral Ibas he put in place is a short-man devil.Very stubborn man.

That was fast.

But the state of emergency should have worked well for state ravaged with bandits and boko haramist and ipob.

I salute Tinubu sagacity, though I no like am

That's their plan B in case impeachment is not working

Mumu government

6 months

Ibabo.

Very soon soldiers will take over the streets of Port Harcourt and his environs. Some people will get killed because of clueless Fubara and foolish Wike

Tinubu not a good leader. He showed partiality in Obasa, he showed partiality in this too by siding Wike

Good news no Victor no vanquish

But how civil servant wan take collect salary? And this man appointed go cash out big time

Wike u do this one o

God all of una

Na wike man still dey