State Of Emergency In Rivers: State Assembly Okays Decision

State of Emergency in Rivers: State Assembly okays decision as Tinubu knocks Fubara, quiet on Wike

Rivers State House of Assembly has thrown own weight behind President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

This statement was issued on Tuesday, by the honorable Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule.

Amaewhule noted that the Assembly was ready to support the president’s decision, as he disclosed that it was not what they had expected.

“We assure our constituents that we will abide by this declaration, even though it is not what we prayed for. Mr. President has acted in the best interest of the country,” Amaewhule said.

The speaker went on to criticize Governor Siminalayi Fubara for  not being able to manage the crisis in the state, highlighting his failure to obey court judgment and inability to rule Rivers State as provided by the constitution.

“The condition of our dear Rivers State today is mainly because of the malfeasance of the governor, who serially disobeyed court judgments and obstructed the Rivers State House of Assembly,” he stated.

The Speaker of the state’s assembly made a rally call on all the citizens of the state to maintain calmness and support the sole administrator installed by President Tinubu to administer the political affairs of the state.

State Of Emergency In Rivers: State Assembly Okays Decision

“We urge everyone to remain calm as the Sole Administrator assumes duty. Rest assured that the Assembly will give him all the necessary support to restore order,” he added.

The speaker went on to thank the native of the state for their support, prayer and patience amidst the present period of emergency.

On 18^th, Tuesday, 2025, president Tinubu declared a state of emergency which led to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected lawmakers of the state House of Assembly for the period of  six months.

He disclosed that the decision was made to reinstate stability in the state which has been greeted by political unrest emanating from disagreement between the state governor and the state legislators.

Following the declaration of the state of emergency in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu appointed a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibokette Ibas, as administrator of the state.

Tinubu Knocks Fubara, Quiet On Wike

“Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them,” the president said of Mr. Fubara.

State Of Emergency In Rivers: State Assembly Okays Decision

On Tuesday, following the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu suspended Rivers State governor Simi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike over lingering crises engulfing the state in recent months.

The crisis affected political activities in the state and paralysed the legislature in the state.

“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,” Mr. Tinubu said in a nationwide speech following his declaration of the state of emergency in the state.

“The Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” the president said.

Tinubu Knocks Fubara

The only frequency in President Tinubu’s speech was that Fubara was blamed by the president but remained quiet on the roles played by Wike on the crisis.

He stated how Fubara deconstructed the Rivers House of Assembly Complex on 13^th December, 2023, and “has, up until now, 14 months after, not rebuilt same.”

Tinubu stressed extensively on the 28^th February, 2025 Supreme Court judgment, which went in favour of Wike and his camp.

He referred to a part of the ruling which stated the Fubara willingly “collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot”.

He also noted that the Supreme Court, in its ruling, said “a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.”

State Of Emergency In Rivers: State Assembly Okays Decision

The president also made reference to the Supreme Court ruling on the deposed 27 pro-Wike lawmakers as lawful members of the Rivers House of Assembly and quoted the judgment that stated that governor Fubara has no right to stop the lawmakers from participating in the plenary of the Assembly.

He stated that Fubara was yet to implement the Supreme Court verdict on the presentation of the 2025 Rivers appropriation bill to the pro-Wike legislators.

Reports garnered from various sources disclosed that Fubara moved to present a budget proposal to the state assembly but knocked back by the pro-Wike legislators. He was denied access to the state complex when he visited to present the budget.

“Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them,” Mr. Tinubu said.

“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 militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them.

“Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together,” he added.

PANDEF’s Words To Wike, Efforts To Restore Peace

From the start, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has been an important figure in Rivers State.

He is the strong backbone of the Speaker of the Rivers State assembly and the 26 other lawmakers.

A few days ago, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF)−an influential Niger Delta group−alleged that Wike stalled the group’s move to restore peace between Wike and Fubara.

State Of Emergency In Rivers: State Assembly Okays Decision

According to the Chairperson of the group, Godknows Igali, disclosed that the inaugurated Peace and Reconciliation Committee in October 2024 to look into the crisis in the state.

“While the Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has demonstrated a willingness to group engage with this committee, the Honorable Minister has consistently rebuffed all attempts to reach him by opening up at dialogue.

“Given his open hostility and dismissive attitude toward PANDEF, the organization can no longer subject these esteemed senior Nigerians on a peace mission to such levels of disregard and disrespect,” said Mr. Igali, a former Nigerian ambassador to Sweden.

Tinubu was not heard, in any way, mention Wike’s name during the declaration of the state of emergency speech.

The president was heard to use “contending parties” where he was meant to mention Wike’s name.

“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,” the president said.

Tinubu’s aim to ignore mentioning Wike’s name in Rivers’ crisis was noted by the Rivers government in its official reaction to the president’s decision.

The Rivers State’s commissioner for information, Warisenibo Johnson, in a statement, questions the suspension of the governor by the president but spared Wike.

State Of Emergency In Rivers: State Assembly Okays Decision

“Unfortunately, at every turn, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by the minister of FCT, frustrated our efforts, thus making genuine peace and progress difficult,” he said.

“That is why it is shocking that Mr. President sacked the Governor and left his minister who is the principal actor.”