President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly for six months.
In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability and governance failure as reasons for his decision.
Expressing concern, the President noted that despite interventions, the crisis had worsened, with the state legislature remaining inoperative since its demolition 14 months ago.
“No responsible leader will ignore such a situation,” he said. “To restore order, I have decided to invoke emergency powers.”
Tinubu announced the appointment of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs.
The decision came hours after another explosion at an oil facility in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA, following a fire incident on Shell’s Trans-Niger Pipeline.
The dual crises have heightened concerns about security and governance in the oil-rich state. While reactions remain divided, Tinubu maintains that his actions are necessary to restore peace and stability in Rivers.
