Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has named a former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Ibokette Ibas, an administrator for Rivers State.

The appointment was made after the President declared a state of emergency in the state and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and the state lawmakers for six months.

Tinubu made the declaration on Tuesday during a national broadcast.

“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 (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.

“For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate,” he said.

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……declares state of emergency in Rivers State

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.

This is in reaction to the political crisis that have engulfed Rivers State.

Leading reporters reports that the President made the declaration in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday.

“The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started,” Tinubu said.

The president stated that he made personal intervention to resolve the crisis in the state but his efforts have been ignored.

A retired military chief, Ekwe Ibas, has been selected to oversee the state’s affairs once the emergency is declared.

The move comes amid escalating violence between former Governor Nyesom Wike and the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as the two continue their protracted political feud.

Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has reportedly been attempting to unseat Fubara, intensifying the political tensions in the state.

Following the unrest, major petrol pipelines in the state were sabotaged by suspected militants.

The increasing violence and instability have prompted the federal government to consider drastic measures to restore order in the oil-rich state.

……….. declares state of emergency

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.

This is in reaction to the political crisis that have engulfed Rivers State.

Leading reporters reports that the President made the declaration in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday.

“The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started,” Tinubu said.

The president stated that he made personal intervention to resolve the crisis in the state but his efforts have been ignored.

A retired military chief, Ekwe Ibas, has been selected to oversee the state’s affairs once the emergency is declared.

The move comes amid escalating violence between former Governor Nyesom Wike and the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as the two continue their protracted political feud.

Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has reportedly been attempting to unseat Fubara, intensifying the political tensions in the state.

Following the unrest, major petrol pipelines in the state were sabotaged by suspected militants.

The increasing violence and instability have prompted the federal government to consider drastic measures to restore order in the oil-rich state.

President Bola Tinubu has addressed the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State, revealing his efforts to restore peace both privately and publicly.

Speaking to leaders of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) on Tuesday in the presidential villa in Abuja, Tinubu said he had foreseen the current situation and urged them to return home and work for peace while upholding the rule of law.

He advised Governor Siminalayi Fubara to implement the recommendations given to him and respect the rule of law, noting that the Supreme Court remains the highest authority in the country. He also called on Niger Delta leaders to support him in achieving this goal.

The president’s remarks came after the Supreme Court upheld Martins Amaewhule as the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

In its ruling delivered on February 28, the Supreme Court ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Accountant General of the Federation, and other financial institutions to withhold funds from the Rivers State government. The court accused the government of “flagrant disobedience” to judicial orders and stated that compliance with the law was necessary before funds could be released.

The decision marked a political setback for Governor Fubara, as the five-member panel of justices unanimously dismissed his cross-appeal challenging the legitimacy of the House of Assembly under Speaker Martins Amaewhule. The ruling affirmed the authority of the 27 lawmakers loyal to former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Additionally, the Supreme Court nullified the recent local government elections in Rivers State, declaring them invalid due to violations of the Electoral Act.