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“Fubara Least Expected What Hit Him” – Information Commissioner

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Warisenibo Johnson - Rivers State Commissioner for Information

By Adesina Soyooye

Rivers State Commissioner for Information,  Warisenibo Johnson, has revealed that Governor Siminalayi Fubara was taken aback by his removal from office. He said the now suspended Governor did not expect the extreme action taken against him and his Government by President Bola Tinubu. At the time the news of his suspension from office was announced, Fubare was busy implementing tye judgment of the Supreme Court.

The President had, in the afternoon of March 18, declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State and suspended  Fubara, his Deputy,  Dr. Ngozi Ordu and all the Members of the House of Assembly from office, for an initial period of six months. In Fubara’s place, Tinubu appointed a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, Sole Administrator of the State.

In an interview with Premium Times, the  Commissioner who said he was with the Governor at the Government House, Port Harcourt, till 2.00am Wednesday, said Fubara had become helpless, and cannot quite do anything or take any action; that he was, only, waiting for Ibas to arrive; and has taken what fate threw at him. He also disclosed that at the time he left Government House, scores of Security Agents have taken over the complex, and all activities therein.

On how they feel about the new situation, he said: “Well, it’s an action we never expected because the indices that should have taken us into a state of emergency were not there. In the ding-dong, we were fulfilling the Supreme Court judgement when this hammer came, and as a Government, we have no choice but to allow the will of God to prevail in this matter.”

President Tinubu has since Wednesday afternoon sworn-in Ibas as Sole Administrator and, according to reports, Fubara and his family have vacated Government House Port Harcourt.

Rivers State, since the return of democracy in 1999, has become the first State in the South-south region to be slammed with a State of Emergency.

The action, however, has been met with unprecedented condemnation.

Rivers: Rotimi Amaechi Says Tinubu Has Truncated Democracy

By
Suleiman Anyalewechi
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Rotimi Amaechi and Bola Tinubu

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

National Assembly should reject the President’s illegality

The immediate past Minister of  Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has condemned in the strongest terms the state of emergency declared in Rivers state and the subsequent suspension of democratically elected Government officials by President Bola Tinubu.

The Source reports that the President, in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday ,March 18, 2025, imposed a State of Emergency on Rivers State, citing the absence of governance and threat to peace and stability of both the State and the country at large as major reasons.

The President appointed a Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, to oversee the affairs of the State for the next six minths.

However, the unexpected action has been drawing flaks from not a few Nigerians, including professional bodies. They are questioning the constitutionality and motives of the President’s action.

Amaechi, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC , and former Governor of Rivers  State, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed serious concern about the implications of the President’s suspension of democratically elected Government officials.

He noted that the unconstitutional suspension of elected officials is a clear and desperate intention of some persons to grab power in the State.

” Unequivocally, I condemn the rather brazen and unilaterally reckless suspension and removal of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, and State House of Assembly members by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“With this singular move, Mr President has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers state. This clearly violates our Constitution, the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Mr President swore to uphold.

“Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution clearly stipulates how State Governors can be removed from office. And it does not include a fiat declaration, decree, or promulgation by Mr President.

“Therefore, he cannot appropriate such powers to himself. A democratically elected State Governor cannot be removed from office by a proclamation of Mr President .

“The suspension of two key democratically elected arms of Government in Rivers State by Mr President evidently violates our constitution even within the scope and interpretation of Section 305 that the President cited in his broadcast.

“The unfolding events in Rivers State in the past months point to a clearly orchestrated plot by some persons to unconstitutionally perpetrate and impose themselves on the people.

“At this inauspicious moment in our nation’s trajectory, all people of goodwill and conscience should rise to oppose this audacious violation of our Constitution ,and rape of democracy.

“Mr president must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand.

“Politicians across the divide should speak out rise to halt our nation’s descent into totalitarianism State Governors and legislators should speak out now.

“I urge the National Assembly to reject this illegality.” Amaechi stated

Tinubu Swears-in Ibok-Ete Ibas As Sole Administrator Of Rivers State

By
Akinwale Kasali
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President Tinubu Swears in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the Rivers State Administrator

By Akinwale Kasali

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

This is coming hours after the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and other elected public office- holders in the State.

Tinubu said that the decision to pick the former Chief of Naval Staff to lead peace initiative in the State was to ensure that Rivers gets a man that understands the ethnic dynamics across Rivers.

The Administrator was sworn in during a short ceremony held inside the Presidential villa on Wednesday to avoid any leadership vacuum in the State.

Ibas’ appointment was announced by Tinubu during a nationwide broadcast Tuesday when he declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended the Governor, Deputy Governor, Ngozi Odu and the Rivers State House of Assembly members.

During the address, Tinubu hinged his decision on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he couldn’t continue to watch the political situation in Rivers escalate without taking any action.

The suspension of Fubara and other democratically elected representatives has been expressly rejected and condemned by many eminent Nigerians, legal luminaries, groups including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association, among others.

While the emergency rule has been praised by the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule, accusing Fubara of contravening the Supreme Court ruling on the political situation in the State, politicians the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and others have kicked against the decision, describing it as an act of despot.

Ibas, who was the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021, was born in Cross River where he had his early education.

The new Sole Administrator attended the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 from where he proceeded to have a successful career in the Navy, rising through the ranks to the very top.

He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management.

President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff conferred him with the National Honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in 2022.

Ondo Killings: Fmr. Dep. Gov Urges Self-defence, Says  Gov Incompetent

By
Ayodele Oni
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Agboola Ajayi and Lucky Aiyedatiwa

By Ayodele Oni

Former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has said the unending insecurity in the state underscores the ill-preparedness and incompetence of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Ajayi, who was candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in 2024 Governorship Election, also accused Aiyedatiwa of displaying lethargic approach to insecurity in the State.

Reacting, in a statement on Wednesday to protest at the governor’s office in Akure over killing of five persons by suspected herdsmen, the former deputy governor advised Aiyedatiwa to

“take full grip of this crisis and seek help that will take Ondo State back from the grip of invading bandits forthwith.

“For the past few weeks,  Ondo State has been in the news for the very wrong reasons, the people are troubled about an emerging culture of kidnapping, banditry and killings, as at the last count, about a hundred people have been killed by criminals who invaded our State from elsewhere.

“Today, the people of Akure felt that they have had enough of this ugly development, they invaded the premises of the Government office  to express their indgnition and  frustration over this ridiculous development for which the APC government of Mr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has no answer.

“Let me underscore the fact that the security challenge confronting Ondo State is not an entirely new development, but Governments before the present had adeptly managed this odious crisis and disallowed it to fester to the level it is today.

“While I was deputy Governor of Ondo State between 2017-2021, working dutifully alongside my late boss, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, we developed a robust plan, and implemented actions that put banditry and criminality in check.

“We stopped outrightly open grazing of cattles by herdsmen and sanity ruled.

Unfortunately the gains of that era has been allowed to slip away and the people are now in pains!

“While I condemn the sloppiness and lethargy with which Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is conducting the affairs of our State, it completely underscores his ill-preparedness and incompetence to be in the saddle.

“I wish to call attention to my campaign manifestoe where I canvassed for new thinking in solving security challenges and urged absolute proactive measures to solving them, I equally laid emphassis on the lethargic approach of Mr Aiyedatiwa during the Governorship debate.

“The need to take full grip of this crisis cannot be  delayed a day longer, I therefore call on the Governor to seek help and take actions that will take Ondo State back from the grip of invading bandits forthwith.

“The Government must as a matter of fact revamp Amotekun immediately and ensure the re-creation of Armed Forest Guards that will police our forests and uproot all invading criminal elements so that peace can reign in our State.

“Due fact is accorded the fact that Mr Governor takes over a billion naira as security vote, it is time to make the administration of this fund bear results in the interest of the State, we the people do not deserve anything less.

“In conclusion, I encourage our people to begin to organise to defend themselves from undue assaults by bandits while we hope that Gov Aiyedatiwa will get his acts together soon.”

We Are In Period Of Total infrastructure Revolution In Imo  – Uzodimma

By
The Source
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Senator Hope Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma has said that Imo State is now in a period of total infrastructure revolution, declaring that there will be no going back.

He spoke on Tuesday, March 18, when he undertook a tour of some ongoing critical State projects in Orlu Zone, to assess the level of progress recorded on them by the contractors.

Some of the key sites inspected include; the already completed Mgbidi-Omuma-Okporo road, the Orlu township road stretching from Banana junction (Amaifeke)-Umuna-Eziachi- Anara, the reconstructed Legislative Chamber for Orlu Local Government Council, and the Traditional Rulers Council Hall, both of which were destroyed at the wake of insurgence in the State.

Uzodimma equally inspected the ongoing Imo State Government House Annex at Eziachi, Orlu.

At the Imo State University Teaching Hospital Umuna, Orlu the Governor inspected the Kidney Transplant Centre, the completed Oxygen Plant as well as the various departments and wards of the hospital, during which he took the initiative to offset the medical bills of all patients in the Male Surgical Ward and that of others running into millions of Naira; a gesture that was met with jubilation from the patients.

At the Orlu-Mgbee-Akokwa-Uga road ravaged by erosion and which is currently under construction, the Governor praised the quality and techniques deployed by the construction company, describing the work ethics and technology deployed to handle the construction as topnotch.

He reiterated that what is going on currently in the State is nothing but an infrastructure revolution aimed at repositioning Imo for sustainable socioeconomic development.

Uzodimma regretted that Orlu zone had faced significant challenges due to insecurity, which led to the destruction of many public assets, noting that the current period marks a time of extensive construction in the area, particularly as security has become relatively stable.

“We have a pack of multiple constructions and road projects to recover the economy of the zone and also to recover life for our people in this area.”

The Governor further stressed his resolve to impact positively on the life and wellbeing of Imo  people.

His words: “Governance is all about evidence of what you have put in place to make life more meaningful for the people. With the available scarce resources of the people, we will do our best to earn and justify the confidence they have in us.”

Governor Uzodinma was accompanied on the tour of projects by the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Development, Barr. Ralph Nwosu,  the Chairman of Orlu Local Government Area, Pastor Chris Mbarie, the Chairman of Imo Road Maintenance Agency (IROMA),  Barr. Kingsley Ononuju, the Chairman of Imo State Elders Council/Co-chairman of Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council, HRM, Exe Cletus Ilomuanya, the traditional ruler of Umuna Autonomous Community, HRH, Eze Douglas Okwara among others.

Breaking: Reps Members In Shouting Match Over  Rivers State

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Marie Ebikake and Blessing Amadi

By Akinwale Kasali

The Chambers of the House of Representatives was in a turmoil as Members engaged in a heated argument debate over the emergency rule declared in Rivers State.

Two Female Members shouted at each other over the political crisis in the South-South State.

The Two female Lawmakers, Marie Ebikake, PDP, Bayelsa, and Blessing Amadi, PDP, Rivers, engaged in a shouting match on the constitutionality of the President’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers.

All the face off and shouting match began before the commencement of the day’s plenary.

It took the intervention of other Lawmakers in the Chamber to prevent the issue from snowballing into an uncontrollable situation.

The President had, on Tuesday, declared a State of Emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political crisis in the state.

The President also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Dr. Ngozi Odu, and Members of the State Assembly for six months.

Tinubu also nominated a former Chief Of Naval Staff, Vice-admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), to administer the State for the next six months.

Following this development, Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, said President Tinubu informed the National Assembly through a letter before the State of Emergency proclamation.

Rotimi added that Tinubu’s letter informing the House of his decision and seeking approval on the State of Emergency in Rivers in line with Section 305 of the Constitution had been transmitted to the House and would be read during plenary on Wednesday for further legislative action.

He said Tinubu met with the leadership of both the Senate and House of Representatives, and the National Security Adviser and Service Chiefs before the broadcast.

Rivers’ Emergency Rule: Plot To Foist Siege Mentality In Nigeria – PDP

By
Ayodele Oni
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Debo Ologunagba

By Ayodele Oni

Opposition is mounting against the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) described the pronouncement by President Bola Tinubu as an attack on the nation’s democracy.

The opposition party, while reacting to the six months emergency rule, stated that the action undermines the votes and Will of the people of Rivers State.

A statement signed by Debo Ologunagba reads “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and indeed, Nigerians listened with dismay to the national broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in which the President, in utter violation of the 1999 Constitution pronounced an imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State

“The PDP outrightly rejects this attempt by the President to override the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and undermine the votes and Will of the people of Rivers State by seeking to depose a democratic government and foist an undemocratic rule in the State.

“The unconstitutional declaration by President Tinubu of the suspension of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara @SimFubaraKSC, and appointment of an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to govern the State is a clear attack on our nation’s democracy, an abrogation of the votes and democratic right of the people of Rivers State to choose their leader under the Constitution.

“The action of Mr. President, therefore, clearly borders on an attempt at state capture.

“It is the climax of a well-oiled plot to forcefully take over Rivers State for which the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been bent on stoking crisis to ensure that democracy is ultimately truncated in the State.

“Nigerians are invited to note that the situation in Rivers State and the reasons adduced by the President cannot justify the declaration of a state of emergency in the State under the 1999 Constitution, rendering the declaration completely incompetent.

“The PDP alerts that the unwarranted imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State is part of the larger vicious plot to foist a siege mentality across Nigeria, decimate the opposition, impose a totalitarian one-party State, and turn the country into a fiefdom

“In any case, nothing in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution relied upon by the President in the declaration grants him the exclusive powers to declare or execute the declaration of a state of emergency without recourse to the statutory approval of the National Assembly.

“Mr. President should recognize that his order to an unelected individual to forthwith take over the government of Rivers State is illegal and a clear recipe for crisis, a threat to the peace and stability of not only Rivers State but the entire nation.

“For emphasis, Governor Fubara was democratically elected for a tenure of four years which tenure cannot be unconstitutionally abridged.

“The PDP, therefore, cautions Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to respect the Constitution and ensure that he does not take any action or step that is capable of derailing smooth democratic Governance in Rivers State.

“Nigeria is not under military rule, where the Governance of a State is by appointment by a junta.”

Ondo: Protesters Dump Corpses Of Farmers At Governor’s Office

By
Ayodele Oni
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Protesters in Ondo State

By Ayodele Oni

Akure the Ondo State Capital was on Wednesday shut down  as angry protesters stormed the Governor’s Office at Alagbaka, shutting down operations over the brutal killing of five farmers by suspected armed herdsmen.

Corpses of the victims were also dumped at the entrance of the Governor’s office by the protesters.

The attack, which took place in the Aba Oyinbo area of Akure North Local Government Area, is the second deadly assault on farmers in the region within two weeks.

Sometimes last week some villagers from the area claimed that, more than 20 farmers were reportedly killed in similar attacks across four farm settlements in the same local government area.

The enraged protesters blocked the entrance to the Governor’s Office, demanding urgent action from the state government to address the worsening security crisis in farming communities.

Residents have repeatedly raised concerns over the rising attacks, accusing the government of failing to protect them.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had previously assured the public of strengthened security measures following the earlier killings, but the fresh incident has reignited anger and frustration among the people.

The governor had met with heads of security agencies in the state promising provision of equipment to assist them in their duties.

Just few days ago, the commissioner of police in the state celebrated the arrest of some suspected kidnappers terrorizing parts of the state.

Security operatives have been deployed to the Governor’s Office to prevent further unrest, while the state government is yet to release an official statement on the killings and the ongoing protests.

Obi To Tinubu On Rivers Emergency Rule: Your Action Threatens Democracy, Reckless

By
James Orji
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Peter Obi and Bola Tinubu

Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, has joined other prominent Nigerians who have condemned the declaration  of Emergency Rule in Rivers state, saying the president abused his powers under the constitution.

The former LP presidential candidate called on the National Assembly to reject the president’s action, which he also described to be reckless.

Following his Tuesday’s declaration of Emergency Rule in the oil bearing state, citing security risks, President Tinubu had written the National Assembly to approve his action which he said is necessary to avert further breakdown of law and order  restive state.

But in a remark on his verified X handle on Wednesday, the former Anambra state governor said the president’s action is against constitutional democracy and good governance, capable of plunging the country “back into a state of lawlessness”, adding that the president has ‘trampled’ on democracy by his action.

He stressed that the unilateral suspension of Governor Siminalaye Fubara and the state House of Assembly is unconstitutional, noting that the president lacked the power to remove an elected governor.

The magazine reported that President Tinubu, had after suspending Governor Fubara appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, a former Chief of Naval staff, as the state Administrator for six months with approval from the National Assembly.

The former governor however said the president was dead wrong to have carried out the action, urging the National Assembly to do what is right  by throwing out the presidents request.

”The unilateral decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara from office is not only unconstitutional but also reckless,’ Obi said.

“It has plunged us back into a state of lawlessness, undoing the progress we have made over 26 years of democratic governance.

He added, “By disregarding the rule of law, the President has shown a dangerous willingness to trample on democracy.

“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is not just reckless—it is a clear attempt to tighten his grip on power at all costs.

“The situation does not justify such an extreme measure, and it is a biased interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

“A state of emergency does not grant the President the power to unilaterally remove an elected Governor. This action goes against democratic norms and good governance.

“Instead, it appears to be a predetermined move serving specific interests rather than the collective good of Rivers State and Nigeria.

“This unconstitutional overreach sets a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. If left unchecked, it will entrench impunity in our political system.

“Having already struggled with electoral irregularities, non-adherence to qualification rules, and massive rigging, adding the arbitrary removal of elected officials will push us closer to lawlessness and anarchy.

“I appeal to the National Assembly and all stakeholders to resist this development. Allowing it to stand will only deepen the existing culture of impunity and brigandage that threatens our democracy.”

State Of Emergency: “This is Absolute Armageddon” – By Bode George

By
The Source
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Bode George
Chief Bode George

“This is absolute Armageddon. Total disrespect for constituted authority. The Constitution has been viciously violated.

“We can’t keep quiet. This is recklessness of the highest order.

“What did Fubara do? As the Commander-in-Chief, you gave Wike soldiers and security agents to try to destabilise Rivers State.

“The Governor does not have powers over any security agency. Like a gentleman that he is, he kept his cool. Nobody has told me what the governor did to warrant this dictatorial emergency rule.

“What type of democracy is this in 2025? This is how it started in 1962 and 1983. This is a dress rehearsal of what Tinubu wants to do in 2027. APC wants to get all states through unconstitutional means.

“This state of emergency is absolute balderdash. Did he get the approval of the National Assembly before his broadcast?

“What happened in Rivers before today was the hand of Esau and voice of Jacob.

“Why didn’t he declare a state of emergency in Lagos when the lawmakers were fighting? Why? Why did he invite Diete-Spiff and Niger Delta leaders last week when he knew where he was going? Is Tinubu now becoming a civilian dictator?”.

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