Newscenter Media News President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday suspended the governor of Rivers State, his deputy and all elected lawmakers in the state for six months following the political crisis that had engulfed the state for some time now.
He also appointed a retired vice admiral as administrator of the state for the six-month period.
Ripples Nigeria had earlier reported that emanating feelers from reliable sources suggested that the president may go that route in addressing the political crises in that state.
The development followed the crisis that has crippled the state since 2023.
Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesome Wike and the governor have been at loggerhead since October 2023 when unknown persons set fire to the Assembly complex in Port Harcourt.
The crisis culminated in the defection of 27 lawmakers led by Martins Amaewhule from them Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) the same month.
However, efforts by stakeholders, including the president have met a brickwall with the warring parties refusing to shift grounds on their demands.
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The president, in a nationwide address, lamented the breakdown of law and order in the oil-rich state.
He said: ““The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.
“With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
“In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do.”
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