A dramatic change hit Rivers State as President Bola Tinubu announced emergency rule on Tuesday night. In a nationwide broadcast, Tinubu said he had to step in to bring back order after events in the state took a dangerous turn. The president said that the state was in deep trouble, which left him no choice but to suspend the governor, his deputy, and all the elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months. He also named a retired vice admiral, Ibokette Ibas, to run the state for now.
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The president explained that the move came after the political leaders in Rivers did not ask for help to fix the state’s problems. Soon after the announcement, soldiers and tanks moved into the Government House in Port Harcourt. Reports say that the governor was still in his residence when the troops took over the building, and an armored vehicle was seen guarding the area.
Many residents in Port Harcourt hurried home after hearing the news. People on the streets talked about the sudden change, blaming political fights for the chaos. Meanwhile, the president said his decision was made to stop the growing unrest and to force everyone to follow the rules. According to him, this step was needed because the usual ways of solving problems had failed, leaving the people of Rivers State to suffer.
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The president’s broadcast made it clear that the emergency did not affect the courts in Rivers, which would keep working as usual. The new administrator was given the power to make rules needed for his work, but these rules had to be approved by the federal cabinet and the president himself. Tinubu also mentioned that the emergency declaration was officially published and sent to the National Assembly, following the proper legal steps.
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The change in Rivers State came on the heels of serious security concerns. Earlier that day, double blasts hit oil pipelines in the state, causing fires and damage. These explosions were linked to illegal activities and raised fears among the people. Security officials moved quickly to control the situation, and a few suspects were arrested after one of the blasts. The police are now investigating if the blasts were part of a bigger plan to harm oil installations.
The political scene in Rivers State is very tense. The suspended governor, Siminalayi Fubara, later urged calm, saying that he and his team had always worked to protect lives and property. He blamed members of the state assembly for blocking efforts to bring peace and promised to work with all institutions to keep the state safe. However, many opposition voices and legal experts criticized the president’s move, arguing that the constitution does not allow such a suspension of elected officials without proper steps. Some believe this action is a power grab that could lead to more unrest.
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Critics, including the Nigerian Bar Association and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, argued that the emergency rule was an overreaction and a dangerous violation of democratic principles. They stressed that political disagreements should be resolved through legal means and that removing elected leaders without following the proper process could destabilize the state. On the other side, supporters of the president say his decision was necessary to restore order and protect the people from further violence and chaos.
The situation in Rivers State remains uncertain as political and security forces work to restore normalcy. The emergency rule is seen by many as a turning point that could either bring lasting peace or spark further conflict. With armed forces now in control and a new administrator in charge, all eyes are on Rivers State to see if this bold move will finally end the state’s long-running troubles.
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