The Digest:
President Bola Tinubu has ended the six-month emergency rule in Rivers State, ordering Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and state assembly members to resume duties on Thursday, September 18. The decision follows a period of “total paralysis of governance” triggered by a political crisis between Fubara and the legislature.
Key Points
- Emergency rule imposed in March 2025 due to governance paralysis, vandalism of oil infrastructure, and executive-legislature rift.
- Tinubu cited Supreme Court remarks that “there was no government in Rivers State” during the crisis.
- Over 40 lawsuits challenged the emergency declaration, but Tinubu insisted it was constitutional and justified.
- The president commended the National Assembly, traditional rulers, and Rivers residents for their patience.
- Intelligence reports indicated a “new spirit of understanding” among stakeholders, enabling the transition.
- Tinubu urged state and national leaders to prioritize harmony between executive and legislative arms.
- The resolution aims to restore public order, security, and developmental governance in the oil-rich state.
The lifting of emergency rule marks a critical step toward political reconciliation in Rivers, though underlying tensions between key actors remain a test for sustainable peace.
Sources: The Cable, Presidential Statement
