On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu held Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State responsible for the ongoing political crisis in the state. In a nationwide broadcast, the President expressed deep concern about the inability of political actors in the state to reach a consensus and restore peace.
Tinubu accused Governor Fubara of demolishing the State Assembly complex and failing to rebuild it for the past 15 months, despite repeated interventions from himself and other stakeholders. He further criticized the governor for dismantling the legislative arm of the state government and for neglecting to address various pressing issues, including security challenges in the state.
The President also cited disturbing security reports, particularly incidents of pipeline vandalism, which he said the governor had failed to curb. He stated that despite these challenges, the governor had not taken any significant action to address the issue, which is critical to the state’s security and economic stability. Tinubu assured the public that he had given a stern order to the security agencies to ensure the safety of the people and protect the oil pipelines.
In light of these ongoing issues, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, emphasizing that no responsible President could stand by and allow the situation to continue without taking necessary constitutional actions. He appointed Retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas to take over the administrative functions of the state, signaling the need for extraordinary measures to restore governance, peace, and security in the region.