Godsent Ogbebor
FG Defends Emergency Rule in Rivers, Says Tinubu Acted to Prevent Crisis
The Federal Government has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, saying the move was necessary to prevent a full-scale crisis.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, made this known on Wednesday while addressing State House correspondents in Abuja.
Fagbemi argued that Tinubu’s intervention was timely, stressing that the President could not have waited until the situation deteriorated further before taking action.
“We have about two years into the administration in the state. Now, when do you think he should have come in? Is it when everything has been destroyed? I don’t think so,” Fagbemi said.
He added that Tinubu had exhausted all avenues for mediation before invoking his constitutional powers.
On Tuesday, the President declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state’s House of Assembly for six months.
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He cited prolonged political instability, constitutional violations, and security threats as reasons for the action.
The crisis, which has stalled governance in the state, stems from a power tussle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
As part of the emergency measures, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored.
In his address to the nation, Tinubu stated that the failure of the state’s leadership to request federal intervention, as required by the Constitution, left him with no choice but to act in the best interest of Rivers residents.
He, however, clarified that the emergency rule would not affect the state’s judiciary, which would continue to function as mandated by the Constitution.
