By Ghazali Ibrahim 
President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing the escalating political crisis and instability in the state.
The president made the announcement in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, stating that the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been suspended for an initial period of six months.
According to President Tinubu, the Governor and Deputy Governor failed to request his intervention, as required by the Constitution, prompting him to invoke Section 305 of the Constitution to declare a state of emergency.
“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,” the president said.
The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is expected to have far-reaching implications for the state’s governance and politics.
The Federal Government is expected to appoint an administrator to oversee the state’s affairs during this period.
Citizens have been urged to remain calm and cooperate with authorities to ensure a smooth transition and the restoration of normalcy in Rivers State.
