By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed optimism that the state of emergency in Rivers State will be lifted on September 18, paving the way for the State House of Assembly to resume legislative duties.
Wike made the remarks on Saturday after casting his vote in the ongoing local government elections in Rivers State.
President Bola Tinubu had imposed emergency rule in the state earlier this year to avert a political crisis, suspending Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly for six months.
Wike noted that the election process had been peaceful and well-attended, adding that the conditions were now right for normal governance to resume at both state and local levels.
“By September 18, the state of emergency will expire, and the State Assembly will come back to their job. We will have a government at the grassroots level,” he said.
The FCT Minister added that with representatives now in place at both the state and local government levels, “the coast is clear” for the lifting of the emergency rule.
