Soldiers have moved into the Rivers State Government House on Azikiwe Road in Port Harcourt following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency.
A source within the government house told Punch that the suspended governor Siminalayi Fubara was still in his official residence in the Government House when the troops swarmed over the premises around 9 pm Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
“Well, as I speak to you now, there are soldiers inside Government House but the governor is in his residence,” the source said.
An Armoured Personnel Carrier has also been stationed at the entrance of the Government House.
Tension enveloped Rivers State on Tuesday evening, following President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency to end the lingering political battle involving Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now FCT minister.
The declaration prompted residents and motorists in Port Harcourt, the state capital, to rush home to their families because they feared a possible breakdown of law and order.
In his nationwide broadcast, President Tinubu justified the declaration, citing the unresolved crisis in the state, which he said has defied political solutions.
He said, “By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for six months.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.”
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| Fubara |
Meanwhile, Fubara has called on state residents to be calm, saying he’ll “engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that “our democracy remains strong.”
In a statement titled “Press Release by the Executive Governor of Rivers State,” Fubara blamed lawmakers loyal to Wike, accusing them of frustrating his efforts to comply with the Supreme Court judgement.
However, while political affairs at Rivers will now be governed by Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) for six months, political stakeholders, parties, and lawyers have criticised President Tinubu’s declaration, describing it as undemocratic.
~Punch
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