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| Wike, Fubara, Tinubu. |
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Wednesday, announced the conclusion of the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, thereby allowing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly to resume their duties starting from Thursday, 18 September.
In a nationwide broadcast, the President stated that the emergency measure, initiated on 18 March 2025 under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, had become unavoidable at the time due to what he referred to as a “total paralysis of governance” within the state.
Tinubu recalled that the prolonged conflict between Governor Fubara and the 27 lawmakers loyal to the Speaker of the State Assembly had brought governance to a standstill. As a result, the governor had been unable to submit an appropriation bill, and essential economic infrastructure, including oil pipelines, had become increasingly vulnerable to vandalism.
He pointed out that the Supreme Court, in one of its judgements, had noted the effective absence of government in Rivers State. Additionally, all attempts made by him and other concerned Nigerians to mediate between the opposing sides had ultimately failed.
“It therefore became painfully inevitable that to arrest the drift towards anarchy in Rivers State, I was obligated to proclaim the state of emergency,” Tinubu explained. “The offices of the governor, deputy governor, and elected members of the State House of Assembly were suspended for six months in the first instance. The six months expire today, September 17th, 2025.”
The President conveyed his appreciation to the National Assembly for swiftly approving the declaration. He also thanked traditional rulers and the citizens of Rivers State for their cooperation while acknowledging those who had opposed the proclamation and challenged it in court.
He emphasised that the authority to declare a state of emergency is a constitutional mechanism and not a tool for revenge, asserting that it had successfully averted the complete collapse of law and order in the state.
However, Tinubu stated that intelligence assessments now revealed a renewed sense of collaboration among the political stakeholders in Rivers, which rendered the continuation of the emergency rule unnecessary.
“With effect from midnight today, the emergency in Rivers State shall end,” he proclaimed.
He appealed to the political leaders in Rivers State to adopt peace and unity for the benefit of the people. He also reminded leaders throughout Nigeria that “it is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy.”
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