By Emmanuel Nduka
President Bola Tinubu in a show of force on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months due to the political tension in the state.
The president announced the decision during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, attributing it to ongoing tensions between the state governor and the state legislature, which have plunged the region into political unrest.
“As part of this declaration, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are hereby suspended for an initial six-month period,” President Tinubu stated.
In an effort to restore order, the President appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the administrator to oversee the affairs of the state.
“To ensure stability, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator of Rivers State, tasked with overseeing the governance of the state in the best interest of its people,” Tinubu declared. “This declaration, however, does not affect the judicial arm, which will continue to operate as per its constitutional duties.”
Tinubu justified the emergency measures by referencing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, asserting that the move was essential to restoring peace and preventing further political unrest. The declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette and sent to the National Assembly for further action.
“It is my sincere hope that this intervention will help restore peace and order in Rivers State, reminding all political players of their constitutional duties,” Tinubu concluded.
Another Loss For The Ijaw Nation
President Tinubu’s hasty and seemingly authoritarian action on Tuesday, declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, has sent shockwaves through the Ijaw nation, reopening deep, painful chapters of the past.
With no clear physical threat of violence or widespread insecurity in the state, his decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire state House of Assembly has triggered a flood of memories of betrayal and loss for the Ijaw people.
This move has reignited old wounds from the dramatic ousting of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, in 2005. Alamieyeseigha’s impeachment on charges of corruption was a blow to the Ijaw nation, one they have never truly healed from. His removal, viewed by many as politically motivated, marked a significant moment in the region’s turbulent history, one that still lingers in their collective memory.
Now, with Fubara’s suspension, the stakes are even higher. The entire Niger Delta region faces the threat of economic instability as the political tensions may further ripple through the now peaceful region. The region, home to critical investments from global oil giants like Chevron, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, and Shell, is poised on the brink of an economic crisis.
The suspension not only jeopardizes the political stability of Rivers State but also casts a long shadow over the future of the nation’s vital oil and gas sector, putting the livelihoods of millions at risk.
The Ijaw nation, already grappling with historical marginalization and a sense of betrayal, now faces yet another challenge, one that may prove even more devastating than those of the past.
Ibas, The New Helmsman
Born on September 27, 1960, in Nko, Cross River State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas is a retired Nigerian Navy vice admiral, who was the 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Nigerian Navy from 2015 to 2021.
Before his latest appointment by President Tinubu, he was appointed as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana in 2021.
