Tinubu declare state of emergency for Rivers State and suspend Govnor Fubara

President Bola Tinubu don declare state of emergency for Rivers sake of di crisis wey dey happun for di state.

E make di declaration for im nationwide broadcast on Tuesday 18 March.

Di president say im dey disturbed about di issues wey dey happun for Rivers State as di wahala neva end and efforts to calm di situation no dey yield any fruit.

President Tinubu bin invoke Section 305 (5) of di 1999 Constitution to make di declaration.

Di president suspend Govnor Siminalayi Fubara and im deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu for six month.

Oga presido also suspend members of di state House of Assembly for di same duration.

Oga presido say e dey sad say Rivers state govnor bin demolish di House of Assembly complex for ova 18 months and neva rebuild am back till now.

"Di state dey standstill since di crisis start and di good pipo of di state no get access to di good dividends of democracy.

"Na public knowledge say di govnor of Rives State demolish di House of Assembly for 2023 and up till now e neva build am back," President Tinubu tok.

President Tinubu say im make personal interventions between di contending parties for a peaceful resolution of di crisis, but add say im efforts dey largely ignored by di parties to di crisis.

E say no good and responsible president go standby and allow di situation to continue witout taking steps wey dey inside di Constitution to address di situation for Rivers State.

Di president tok say e don look di political situation for Rivers State and since di govnor and deputy govnor no make a request to am as president to issue proclamation according to section 305 (5) of di 1999 Constitution as amended, im go invoke am.

"E don become inevitably compelling for me to invoke di provision of section 305 of di Constitution of di Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency for Rivers State wit effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.

"By dis declaration, di govnor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, im deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of di House of Assembly of Rivers State dey hereby suspended for an initial period of six months."

Who go dey in charge of Rivers State?

According to President Tinubu, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) go take ova di affairs of di state, and add say di judiciary no dey affected.

"For di meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of di affairs of di state for di interest of di good pipo of Rivers State.

"For di avoidance of doubt, dis declaration no affect di judicial arm of Rivers State, wey go continue to function in accordance wit dia constitutional mandate," di president tok.

President Tinubu say di new administrator no go make any new laws but e fit form regulations wey di Federal Executive Council gatz approve for di state.

"Di administrator no go make any new laws but e go dey free to formulate regulations wey dey necessary to do im job, but such regulations go need to dey considered and approved by di Federal Executive Council and promulgated by di president for di state," President Tinubu tok.

Wetin be state of emergency?

State of emergency na temporary measure wey goment fit declare during crisis wey dey threaten di public safety, order, or governance.

E dey grant authorities special powers to respond to di situation effectively.

Dis powers fit include suspending certain rights, deploying security forces, restricting movement, and overriding normal legislative procedures.