President Bola Tinubu Archives

Breaking: Tinubu Lifts Emergency Rule in Rivers, Reinstates Gov Fubara

By Bunmi Ogunyale Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has lifted the State of Emergency rule on Rivers State. The President made this declaration in a statement made available in Abuja on Wednesday. His words; “My Fellow countrymen and, in particular, the good people of Rivers State. “I am happy to address you today on the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State. You will recall that on 18th March, 2025, I proclaimed a state of emergency in the state. In my proclamation address, I highlighted the reasons for the declaration. “The summary of it for context is that there was a total paralysis of governance in Rivers State, which had led to the Governor of Rivers State and the House of Assembly being unable to work together. Critical economic assets of the State, including oil pipelines, were being vandalised. “The State House of Assembly was crisis-ridden, such that members of the House were divided into two groups. Four members worked with the Governor, while 27 members opposed the Governor. The latter group supported the Speaker. As a result, the Governor could not present any Appropriation Bill to the House, to enable him to access funds to run Rivers State’s affairs. That serious constitutional impasse brought governance in the State to a standstill. Even the Supreme Court, in one of its judgments in a series of cases filed by the Executive and the Legislative arms of Rivers State against each other, held that there was no government in Rivers State. “My intervention and that of other well-meaning Nigerians to resolve the conflict proved abortive as both sides stuck rigidly to their positions to the detriment of peace and development of the State. “It therefore became painfully inevitable that to arrest the drift towards anarchy in Rivers State, I was obligated to invoke the powers conferred on me by Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, to proclaim the state of emergency. The Offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and elected members of the State House of Assembly were suspended for six months in the first instance. The six months expire today, September 17th, 2025. “I thank the National Assembly, which, after critically evaluating the justification for the proclamation, took steps immediately, as required by the Constitution, to approve the declaration in the interest of peace and order in Rivers State. I also thank our traditional rulers and the good people of Rivers State for their support from the date of the declaration of the state of emergency until now. “I am not unaware that there were a few voices of dissent against the proclamation, which led to their instituting over 40 cases in the courts in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa, to invalidate the declaration. That is the way it should be in a democratic setting. “Some cases are still pending in the courts as of today. But what needs to be said is that the power to declare a state of emergency is an inbuilt constitutional tool to address situations of actual or threatened breakdown of public order and public safety, which require extraordinary measures to return the State to peace, order and security. “Considered objectively, we had reached that situation of total breakdown of public order and public safety in Rivers State, as shown in the judgment of the Supreme Court on the disputes between the Executive and the Legislative arm of Rivers State. It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation. “As a stakeholder in democratic governance, I believe that the need for a harmonious existence and relationship between the executive and the legislature is key to a successful government, whether at the state or national level. The people who voted us into power expect to reap the fruits of democracy. However, that expectation will remain unrealizable in an atmosphere of violence, anarchy, and insecurity borne by misguided political activism and Machiavellian manipulations among the stakeholders. “I am happy today that, from the intelligence available to me, there is a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all the stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance. This is undoubtedly a welcome development for me and a remarkable achievement for us. I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced at the beginning of it. “It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today. 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. “I take this opportunity to remind the Governors and the Houses of Assembly of all the States of our country to continue to appreciate that it is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people. I implore all of you to let this realisation drive your actions at all times. “I thank you all.” Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Breaking: Tinubu Gifts D’Tigress N150M Each, National Honours, 3-Bedroom Flats

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rewarded members of the Nigeria’s D’Tigress with mouthwatering gifts for lifting their seventh African Championship at the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket. The President represented by the Vice President at the Presidential Villa’s Bouquent Hall, Abuja decorated the team and technical crew with Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). The President also gifted the players the sum of $100,000,00 (N150,000,000), while the coach and the technical crew $50,000,00. The players and the technical crew were also rewarded with three bedroom flats at the Renewed Hope Agenda Estate, Abuja. President Tinubu commended the skill, resilience, determination, and teamwork that propelled the team to the fifth consecutive title, and the seventh overall. He praised the team’s determination to bring glory to the country despite losing the first quarter of the match. “Your superb performance throughout the competition has made Nigeria proud. Like the Super Falcons, you have inspired our young ladies. You embodied the indomitable Nigerian spirit, the power of unity, and the rewards of hard work. “By winning the AfroBasket trophy for a record fifth consecutive time, you have written your names in history and shown the world what to expect out of Africa,” the President stated. President Tinubu also lauded Head Coach Rena Wakama and her technical team for their exemplary leadership and the Nigeria Basketball Federation for their steadfast support. “The Federal Government and Nigerians will never forget the sacrifices and remain grateful for the highly elevating performances. “The government and the people of Nigeria celebrate you and assure you of our continued support as you prepare for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup next March. President Tinubu added, “I look forward to receiving the victorious team and the trophy in Abuja, while wishing you all a safe trip.” The Coach Rena Makama-led female team won the Afrobasket finals by defeating the Malian side, 78-64, in a thrilling match Sunday night at the Palais des Sports de Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Breaking: Tinubu Splashes $100,000 Each, 3-bed Flats on Super Falcons

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago01 mins

Members of the victorious Super Falcons have been rewarded with the sum of $100,000 ,00 each, 3-bed room flats and National award for emerging winners of the just concluded Women Africa Nations Cup in Morocco. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made this announcement at the reception held at the banquet hall at the Presidential Villa on Monday. According to the President, each of the players and technical crew will pocket an naira equivalent of $100,000,00 and $50,000,00 respectively. In addition, the President awarded the players with Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), just as they were gifted 3-bed room apartment each the Renewed Hope Agenda Estate at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. In similar vein, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who doubles as the Chairman of the Progressive Governor Forum showered the team with the sum of N10million each.

Edo Guber: Tinubu Congratulates Okpebholo on Supreme Court Victory

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago02 mins

President Bola Tinubu congratulates Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on the affirmation of his election by the Supreme Court. The Edo State governorship election took place in September 2024, and Governor Okpebholo was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Supreme Court, as the final arbiter, upheld the election of the governor today. President Tinubu encourages Governor Okpebholo to be magnanimous in victory and rally the citizens of Edo across divides towards a singular vision of advancing the state’s development. The President advised that now that the governor has cleared the legal hurdles, it is time for him to accelerate the delivery of exceptional services and good governance to the people of Edo State, which he has already begun to do. President Tinubu also congratulated the leadership and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State and calls for cohesion and dedication in effectively discharging the mandate given by the people.

Gbajabiamila: Lawmakers Forced Into Budget Insertions Due to Broken Local Governments

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago14 mins

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, says Nigerian lawmakers are often forced to insert constituency projects into the national budget to meet public expectations caused by the collapse of local government systems. Speaking on Tuesday during the opening of the 2025 Open Week of the House of Representatives in Abuja, Gbajabiamila — a former Speaker of the House — said there is a widening disconnect between the constitutional role of lawmakers and what the public expects of them. “It is a source of frustration that, nearly three decades later, the vast majority of our nation’s people still do not fully comprehend the legislative functions, powers, responsibilities, and limitations of each member of parliament and the institution,” he said. Gbajabiamila explained that the public pressure on legislators to build roads, classrooms, and healthcare facilities — responsibilities assigned to the executive and local governments — has driven lawmakers to rely heavily on budget insertions to deliver tangible projects to their constituents. His remarks follow revelations by BudgIT, a civic tech group, which recently said it uncovered over 11,000 projects worth N6.93 trillion inserted into the 2025 national budget by the National Assembly. The group described the practice as a systemic abuse of power. But Gbajabiamila argued that in the absence of functioning local governance, lawmakers have little choice but to fill the vacuum. “A member of the House of Representatives who isn’t actively engaged in providing education and healthcare facilities, who isn’t doing road construction and waste management, while delivering sustained empowerment for commercial activities, is not going to be a legislator for very long,” he said. He warned that the blurring of legislative and executive roles risks long-term dysfunction and growing public resentment. Legislators, he said, are being judged on duties they were never constitutionally designed to perform. “For example, when the executive builds roads, there is a framework for maintenance through the public works department. No legislator can provide that, nor should they be expected to,” he noted. Gbajabiamila assured that the Tinubu administration is working to restore autonomy and functionality to local governments through improved funding, transparency, and accountability. He emphasized that in more advanced democracies, local governments handle most quality-of-life services — from waste disposal to community policing — now unfairly expected of federal lawmakers. He expressed hope that a strengthened local government system will allow legislators to return to their core constitutional duties: lawmaking, policy development, and oversight of the executive.