President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing the unabated political crises that led to destruction of oil pipelines by militants.
Tinubu disclosed this in a nationwide emergency broadcast where he expressed deep concern over the situation.
The President who issued this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, noting that several steps that he and leaders of thought took to mediate over the political crisis in the State, were futile.
Tinubu lamented that neither suspended Governor
Siminalayi Fubara nor his deputy reach out to him despite the recent oil pipeline explosions that were reported at reported at an oil facility in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area and the Trans-Niger Pipeline, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), went up in flames.
“In this 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”, according to him.
The President also said, “I feel greatly disturbed by the political crisis in Rivers. The state has been at a standstill, and the people have been deprived of good governance.
“Fourteen months after Governor Fubara demolished the House of Assembly, it remains unbuilt. Many Nigerians have intervened, just as I did. But their efforts have been to no avail.
“No responsible President will stand by without taking action. To restore good governance and peace in this circumstance, it has become imperative to declare a state of emergency.
“By this declaration, Governor Fubara is hereby suspended”, according to him.
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