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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.

Rivers: Tinubu Reconciles Wike, Fubara, Others

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

After rounds of meeting at the behest of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu between Wednesday June 25 and Thursday June 26 , the lingering political crises in Rivers State seem to have been resolved. At the end of behind the scene meetings in Abuja, the main dramatis personae in the roiling political logjam Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike and his estranged ally, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who was suspended as Governor following the imposition of State of Emergency, and other key players including some elders of the State privy to the behind the scene negotiations, met with Tinubu late Thursday ostensibly to report the resolution of the issues. With all parties to the crises including the suspended Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule now on the same page, all is now set for the restoration of democratic structures and return of all suspended political actors.

Fubara Visits Tinubu in Lagos

Fola Badmus4 months ago4 months ago01 mins

Suspended Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara has paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos. The Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the visit. Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on March 18, 2025 declared a state of emergency citing the need to restore law and order as the crisis between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike festered. He also announced the suspension of Fubara, his Deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the Rivers Assembly for an initial six months. This was followed by the nomination of retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas administrator to steer the affairs of the state, during the period of the emergency rule. Onanuga on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday said: “Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers, now on suspension from office visited President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Tuesday.”

Six Months After Rivers Emergency Declaration: What Lies Ahead?

President Tinubu, Fubara in Secret Meeting in London

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago04 mins

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu met with Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara, whom he suspended on 18 March, according to The Africa Report. Two aides to the president confirmed to The African Report that the meeting took place in London last week, shortly after Tinubu left Paris. The meeting, it was learnt, was at the insistence of Governor Fubara, who has been desperate to return to office since the president declared a state of emergency in oil-rich Rivers State. “It is true. Governor Fubara held a private meeting with the president last week. Fubara has promised to make some compromises. Negotiations are ongoing, but from all indications, his suspension will be lifted before the six-month deadline,” said an adviser to the president who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak to the press. Another presidential aide said Fubara is also open to joining the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to ingratiate himself with the president and then obtain cover. “If Fubara joins the APC, it means the president’s chances of winning Rivers State are much higher,” he said. It was also learnt that Fubara’s estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, was not part of the meeting and was uncomfortable with such meetings taking place behind his back. However, Tinubu is expected to broker a meeting between Fubara, Wike, and the Rivers State lawmakers to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the state. The president had on 18 March declared a state of emergency in Rivers State for six months, just hours after two oil pipelines exploded. Security officials traced the explosion to a longstanding feud between Governor Fubara and 27 state lawmakers who are loyal to Wike, the current minister of the Federal Capital. The state lawmakers had, at Wike’s prodding, resolved to impeach the governor for constitutional breaches, including the alleged bombing of the state parliament building. With Nigeria relying on oil receipts for about 60% of government revenue and 90% of its foreign exchange, the Tinubu administration decided to declare a state of emergency to save the state from descending into anarchy. He followed up by appointing former naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of Rivers State with full powers to act as governor. Since Fubara’s suspension, however, there have been weekly protests in Rivers State and cases instituted in court, but the governor has been criticised for not taking a tougher stance. In his Easter message, Governor Fubara called on the people of Rivers State to continue to support Tinubu.

NBA Refutes Selling AGC 2025 Hosting Rights Claims

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has denied selling her 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) hosting rights to Rivers State. Chairman, 2025 NBA AGC Planning Committee, Emeka Obegolu, SAN stated this in a media statement on Monday. The statement reads; “The attention of the Annual General Conference planning committee has been drawn to a statement credited to the Administrator of Rivers State to the effect that Rivers state government paid hosting rights for the hosting of the NBA AGC 2025. “We wish to clarify that the decision to host the 2025 AGC in Portharcourt was taken in August 2024 and was not subject of any bidding process or payment of any hosting rights. The host city has no hosting right and there is no representation by the NBA that the Conference must be held in a chosen city. “Traditionally, because of the enormous cost involved in hosting the AGC, NBA Conference Planning Committee approaches organizations, agencies of government and state governments for support and the support requested for is unconditional and not tied to hosting rights or any rights whatsoever. “Recent NBA conferences have been supported by different state governments, corporate organizations, ministries, departments and agencies whose budgets accommodate corporate social responsibilities and share the same vision with NBA. Such financial supports are in the form of gifts, partnerships or sponsorships. The money from Rivers State was a gift and was not tied to any purported hosting right for the NBA AGC. “We are committed to delivering a world class conference to members of the Bar and will not be drawn into any unnecessary controversy over this issue.” The 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) which has been moved from Portharcourt to Enugu is slated bwetween 22nd and 28th og August.

#BringBackFubara: Women Demand End to Emergency Rule in Rivers

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago02 mins

A group of women in Rivers State staged a protest on Friday morning in Port Harcourt, the state capital, demanding the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and an end to the emergency rule declared in the state. The protest, which began in the early hours of the day, saw the women chanting slogans and wielding placards with inscriptions such as ‘We need our democracy restored’, ‘#BringBackFubara’, ‘Obey the rule of law’, and ‘Save our democracy’. “We want Governor Fubara back,” one of the protesters was heard saying in videos circulating on X. PUNCH Online gathered that the demonstration culminated in a march to the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt, where the women called for a return to democratic governance and described the current political situation in the state as “unconstitutional”. The protest comes in response to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. President Bola Tinubu had declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state on March 18, citing a prolonged political crisis. Following the declaration, Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval chief, was appointed as the sole administrator of the state. Videos circulating on social media showed the women chanting solidarity songs and demanding an end to what they termed a “breach of democratic principles”.

EFCC Arrests 37 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Port Harcourt

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago01 mins

Operatives of the Port Harcourt’s Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested Thirty Seven (37) suspected internet fraudsters. They were arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Tuesday April 8, 2025 in an operation code named “operation eagle sweep”. They were arrested for alleged internet fraud after the Commission received credible intelligence on their activities in various hideouts within the State. Items recovered from them include different brands and models of exotic vehicles, smart phones, smart wrist watches, international passports, Automated Teller Machine, ATM cards of different banks and laptops containing incriminating materials and documents. The matter will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Ibas Appoints Administrators for 23 Rivers LGs

Fola Badmus5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has approved the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state. This comes less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt reportedly restrained him from appointing administrators to oversee the affairs of the local government councils. The order was issued by Justice Adam Muhammed on Tuesday in suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025 in the case filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative led by Courage Msirimovu against the Sole Administrator in his official capacity. However, Ibas also approved the constitution of some boards of agencies, commissions and parastatals which he had earlier suspended. The approval was contained in a Special Government Announcement issued on Wednesday morning by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika. The statement said the appointments take immediate effect. Mr Okroiyobi Animete was appointed as administrator for Abua/Odual LG, Mr Goodluck M Iheanacho for Ahoada East LG, Mr Promise Jacob for Ahoada West LG, among others. The statement read, “His Excellency, The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. “He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended. “All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.” Recall that last week, the sole administrator had suspended all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state with immediate effect. In a separate development, Ibas also cancelled all pending procurement and tender processes carried out by Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state. He said the cancellation became necessary following the Supreme Court judgment and the absence of an appropriation law within the period. The sole administrator, according to a previous statement also issued by the SSG, directed all MDAs that carried out such tender processes for projects in their respective offices to refund such fees to the respective contractors immediately.