.Gov Fubara, Deputy suspended for 6 initial months as Vice Admiral Ibas emerges Sole Administrator
..State judiciary remains intact
..Atiku Abubakar condemns imposition of state of emergency, calls it assault on democracy
.As Ijaw youths block East-West road in protest
Not suspending Wike ‘ll escalate crises in Rivers–Group alleges
..Tinubu in emergency close door meeting with NSA, Service Chiefs
EMMANUEL NLEWEDUM, Port Harcourt
Tension and fear are gradually gripping Rivers people following multiple explosions on different oil facilities in the state.
On Monday night, there was a report of a major explosion at the Trans-Niger Pipeline, in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, resulting in a fire outbreak at the affected section.
Few hours later into the following day on Tuesday, another explosion was reported to have occurred at a manifold at Okwawnwa area, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government area of the state.
Though the cause of the explosions are yet to be made known, but there are fears that the pipeline explosion may not be unconnected to the political developments the state, especially with the commencement of impeachment proceedings against the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
On Monday, 26 members of the Assembly signed a notice of allegation of gross misconduct against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Professor Odu listing 18 impeachable offences the governor. The letter was dated 14 March, 2025 and addressed to Speaker of the House, Martin Amaehwule.
Recalled that a militant group by name, Niger Delta Rescue Movement had in a video that went viral threatened to attack critical oil facilities in the state in protest of the supreme court’s directive to withhold Rivers State’s allocation, as well as any move by the state assembly to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The blast, which happened on Monday night, critically affected a crucial export pipeline that channels crude oil to the Bonny Terminal.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command said it has launched an investigation into the explosion at the Trans-Niger Pipeline in Bodo.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Grace Iringe-Koko while confirming the incident at Bodo, assured residents safety, noting that the situation has been put under control.
She said, “The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that a fire incident occurred at the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) operated Trans Niger Delta Pipeline, located at the border of Kpor and Bodo communities.
“During a routine night patrol, security operatives observed the incident and promptly alerted SPDC management. The latter initiated necessary safety protocols, including shutting down the affected pipeline. As a result of swift intervention, the situation is now under control, and there is no further threat to residents or the environment.
“The Rivers State Police Command has commenced a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the fire. In connection with this, two individuals have been taken in for questioning as part of efforts to uncover any potential act of sabotage. The Command remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators of criminal activities are identified and brought to justice.
“We urge residents to remain calm and vigilant, assuring them of our unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property. The Command will not relent in its efforts to rid the state of criminal elements and maintain peace and security for all,” she said.
The Police was yet to comment on the fire incident at the manifold in ONELGA, as at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, youths from the Ogoni extraction in Rivers State have strongly condemns the attack on the Trans – Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area.
President General of the Ogoni Youth Federation Engr. (Dr.) Legborsi Yamaabana also applauded the swift response of security operatives to curtain the incident, and apprehending two suspected masterminds of the attack.
Yamaabana who is also the Chairman, Rivers State Ethnic Youth Leaders Coalition and Spokesman of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum leader, called on Ogoni youths to remain vigilant of external forces who will want to come and commit crimes to paint the youths and the area in bad light.
Meanwhile the president of the country, Bola Ahmed Tinubu made a broadcast to the nation over the Rivers State crisis.
Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.
With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.
Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same. I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.
On February 28, 2025, the supreme court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms:
“a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is, there is no government in Rivers State.”
The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected
“are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members”
The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated.
Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them.
Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together.
Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state.
The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines.
With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.
In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and 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 and I so do.
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 an initial period of six months.
In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) 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.
The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.
This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
..Atiku Abubakar condemns imposition of state of emergency, calls it assault on democracy
Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar, Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007 has reacted on the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers
According to him The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State reeks of political manipulation and outright bad faith.
It reads ‘’Anyone paying attention to the unfolding crisis knows that Bola Tinubu has been a vested partisan actor in the political turmoil engulfing Rivers. His blatant refusal — or calculated negligence — to prevent this escalation is nothing short of disgraceful.
Beyond the political scheming in Rivers, the brazen security breaches that led to the condemnable destruction of national infrastructure in the state land squarely on the President’s desk.
Tinubu cannot evade responsibility for the chaos his administration has either enabled or failed to prevent.
It is an unforgivable failure that under Tinubu’s watch, the Niger Delta has been thrown back into an era of violent unrest and instability — undoing the hard-won peace secured by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua. Years of progress have been recklessly erased in pursuit of selfish political calculations.
If federal infrastructure in Rivers has been compromised, the President bears full responsibility. Punishing the people of Rivers State just to serve the political gamesmanship between the governor and Tinubu’s enablers in the federal government is nothing less than an assault on democracy and must be condemned in the strongest terms.
.Ijaw youths block East-West road over Wike/Fubara feud
Ijaw Youths under the umbrella of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), blocked the Mbiama Axis of the East-West road on Tuesday to protest over the statements by the Minster of the FCT. Barr. Nyesom Wike.
It would be recalled that Wike allegedly described the Ijaws as minority in the Niger Delta region.
The peaceful protest by hundreds of youths, is to express their dissatisfaction over recent political developments in Rivers.
The protest which paralyzed commercial activities and vehicular movement on the ever busy road, they said was a demonstration in response to comments made by the FCT Minister, which the protesters described as insulting to the Ijaw nation
The peaceful demonstration saw leaders from various IYC zones and national officers demanding President Tinubu to caution the minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike over the recent political developments in Rivers.
The protesters berated the Minister in what they described as unhealthy distraction to good Governance in the state.
Additionally, the protesters voiced their concerns over what they perceived as President Bola Tinubu’s support for the FCT Minister in the ongoing political crisis in the State.
Especially with the move by the State House of Assembly to impeach Gov. Siminalayi Fubara.
The Ijaw youths vowed not to leave the East-west road until President Tinubu genuinely decides to settle the political crisis in Rivers.
The protest which had all the structures of the IYC demand an end to the continued oppression of the Rivers governor and its people, describing it as a looming outbreak of violence.
One of the youth, Mr Tonye Ebi, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent, appealed to President Tinubu to genuinely intervene to settle the political crisis in Rivers in the interest of the people.
According to him: “The umbrella body of Ijaw youths worldwide, the IYC had earlier reiterated through earlier warning that governor Fubara’s tenure must not be truncated, as the Ijaw people will not sit and watch such happen.”
For a better society
Follow us across our platforms:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/championnewsonline/
Facebook – https://web.facebook.com/championnewsonline
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-newspapers-limited/
https://x.com/championnewsng/
You can also like and comment on our YouTube videos.
https://youtu.be/QIBfD1tT80w?si=R4Qf3so2LxYu3GC2
