Lagos, Nigeria – Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich Rivers State following prolonged infighting that crippled the state legislature.
“The Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, 14 months after, not rebuilt” it, Tinubu said, speaking on television.
A power struggle between governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, now minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has paralysed the state.
Both belong to the PDP opposition party and Wike had endorsed Fubara as his successor.
But Fubara’s desire to move out of Wike’s shadow degenerated into a political crisis, with state lawmakers trying to impeach him.
Fubara then attempted to dissolve the state legislature.
Tensions escalated in December 2023, when 27 local elected officials, loyal to former governor Wike, left the party to join the ruling APC.
The assembly then suffered arson.
“With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance… can thrive… The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started,” Tinubu said.
“It has become inevitably compelling for me to … declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.”
Tibubu appointed a retired vice-admiral, Ibokette Ibas, as caretaker state head for six months.
He added that state governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu and elected members of the state legislature were suspended.
© Agence France-Presse
