The politics of Rivers State, Nigeria, has assumed a new twist, as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in the state, suspending Gov Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all 27 elected members of the House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
The declaration, which takes immediate effect, was made pursuant to Section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
According to the president, the Gov and his deputy failed to request the proclamation as required by law, leaving him with no choice but to invoke the provision.
To oversee the affairs of the state, President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Retd) as Administrator.
The president said, “In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.
“By this declaration, 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.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.”
Ibas, a seasoned naval officer, was born in Nko, Cross River State, and enlisted in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979.
He was commissioned sub-lieutenant in 1983 and rose through the ranks to become the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021.
As Administrator, Ibas will be responsible for maintaining law and order in the state, but will not have the power to make new laws.
He will, however, be able to formulate regulations, subject to approval by the Federal Executive Council and promulgation by the President.
The declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which will continue to function in accordance with its constitutional mandate.
The president expressed hope that this intervention will restore peace and order in the state and awaken all stakeholders to their constitutional responsibilities.
Even though the president may not be thoroughly unbiased in this decision, I hope the gladiators will now be happier than ever before. When politicians become power drunk, their drunkenness may be mitigated by taking them off the vodka bottle and gin drinking glass.