Over the past few days, there has been one drama after another in Rivers State, Nigeria. All the twists and turns led to President Tinubu suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all state House of Assembly members.
Where It All Began
It all started as a power struggle between Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who’s now Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Governor Fubara was Wike’s political protégé, but they fell out over control of the state’s political structure.
Despite moving to Abuja as a minister, Wike still had significant influence over the Rivers State government. Tensions grew when Fubara started making independent decisions, sidelining Wike’s loyalists in government.
Impeachment Moves and Political Crisis
In late 2023, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara. While this initial attempt was unsuccessful, it led to a prolonged political crisis in Rivers State.
On March 17, 2025, another impeachment process began. The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, served Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, with notices of gross misconduct.
Pipeline Fire and State of Emergency Declaration
Less than 24 hours after this impeachment process began, a fire outbreak occurred on the Trans Niger Pipeline in the Bodo area, a major oil transportation route. This incident was said to threaten national security, leading to President Bola Tinubu declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025.
He suspended Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Adu, and all state lawmakers, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as the interim administrator to oversee the state’s affairs. Following the President’s declaration, the Senate and the House of Representatives approved the state of emergency.
Despite initial resistance from opposition parliamentarians, the emergency rule was sanctioned to be in effect for six months, allowing the federal government to manage the state’s affairs and deploy security forces to maintain order.
Reactions To State Of Emergency And Governor Fubara Suspension
This development has sparked various reactions, including on social media. The Nigerian Bar Association criticized the move as illegal, arguing that an emergency does not dissolve elected governments.
Additionally, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) expressed concerns about the appropriateness and timing of the declaration, suggesting that the scale of security threats in Rivers State did not warrant such an intervention compared to other regions facing more severe issues. Just today, Okrika women protested in the state, calling on the President to reinstate Governor Fubara.
The situation in Rivers State remains complex, with debates ongoing about the necessity and implications of the state of emergency. Stay tuned for all the updates.
