Expectations are high in the political community as Rivers State’s emergency rule comes to an end.
If President Bola Tinubu, who took a 10-day vacation to return to Nigeria yesterday, does not extend the rule, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, are anticipated to return to their seats tomorrow.
So far, all looks to be prepared for the termination of the emergency rule and the reinstatement of elected officials.
Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas, retd, the sole administrator of Rivers State, has organised his handover note and conducted a church service of thanksgiving last Sunday. He has urged the people of the state to maintain the peace that his administration has established over the last six months.
Ibas stated yesterday that Thanksgiving last Sunday was important during a public talk titled “Good Governance and Democratic Dividends.” They reminded the populace that “this administration’s journey would not have been possible without God and the people’s tenacity.”
There is more to this public talk than just intellectual pursuits. In actuality, it is a renewal of the covenant with the Rivers people.
Our democracy must function as a nation, and service must always be at the heart of administration, Ibas stated. As we stand in front of you, we are humbled and grateful for the support you provided me as your administrator, as well as grateful that I was chosen to serve at such a pivotal point in our great state’s history.
Our primary goal when we started our mission on March 18, 2025, was to bring peace and stability back. We have reached this point with God’s grace and the help of all parties involved. The most important development was the calm municipal elections that brought democratic governance back to the people’s closest level of government, the grassroots.
Emergency rule necessary
He said there was never an option in the emergency rule. We had to do it because of the insecurity, political deadlock, and erosion of confidence. However, looking back, it taught us important truths like the value of peace, the possibility of another aspiration in the absence of security, the fact that opportunism fills the void left by weak administration, putting lives and livelihoods in jeopardy, and the unbreakable spirit of the Rivers people. They stayed strong, they persisted, and they endured.
“Democracy is now being reconstructed on the stability that we have restored. Good governance and democratic dividends, the lecture’s theme, has been well-represented by our guest speaker. It is my responsibility to express my profound appreciation to the people of Rivers for what we have accomplished over the past six months.
“The support has been extremely humble, and I will always be grateful to all of you,” he said, thanking the state’s citizens. I implore you to renew your commitment to God’s plan for our joint future.
Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kannike, the keynote speaker, emphasised the importance of maintaining democracy in the nation.
Mixed reactions trail emergency rule
There are still conflicting responses to the proclamation as the emergency rule comes to an end.
Yesterday, opposition political parties and civil society organisations voiced differing opinions about the status of democracy in Rivers State after the suspension of democratic institutions and the implementation of new rules.
A protracted political dispute between Nyesom Wike, the immediate former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and his appointed successor, Fubara, prompted President Tinubu to proclaim a state of emergency in the state on March 18, 2025.
Emergency rule unnecessary
Israel Edache, a public affairs analyst, contended that the declaration of emergency in Rivers during a period when there was no significant threat to the peace was a sobering reminder that “godfathers” would continue to be a major drain on our democracy.
“The emergency rule was declared because a godfather was upset that he was losing the political structure,” he said. In order to convey a message, he garnered the President’s support. Regretfully, our politicians have not gained much, if any, insight from our country’s collective past.
“With Fubara’s return, should we anticipate a significant change in the standard of living for the people of Rivers State? I highly doubt it. If, in the end, he proves me incorrect, I will be happy. The outcome of the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) case against the emergency rule is unknown.
Rivers elders sue for unity, collaboration
The Rivers State Elders Council, or RSEC, called on the state’s leaders and citizens to come together yesterday in order to maintain peace and advance the state.
The anticipated return of democracy “affords us an opportunity to reflect on a number of issues: Where we are coming from, what to do to avoid recurrence of the unfortunate circumstances we found ourselves and significantly, how to sustain peace, unity, and development in our beloved Rivers State,” the elders said in a statement released by the chairman, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.
As the Rivers State Elders Council’s leaders and members, we would like to make the following statement and appeal: We implore all parties involved, without exception, to welcome the peace and reconciliation that has now returned to our beloved state.
We also urge those few people and those who continue to stoke the flames of conflict to accept that the crisis is resolved and to cease provoking the media, making divisive remarks, and inflaming emotions for their own self-serving ends.
“They ought to put the state’s interests first and permit Governor Fubara and the House of Assembly to collaborate without any more interruptions.”
PDP demands probe of six-month interim rule and warned Fubara against
defection
Additionally, yesterday, the PDP called on Fubara to remain faithful to the party, turn down attempts by the APC to court him, and look into the management of Rivers State during the six months he was suspended under emergency rule.
PDP Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor and PDP Deputy National Legal Adviser Barrister Okechukwu Osuoha stated in an interview that Fubara’s return must be characterised by responsibility, allegiance to the PDP, and attempts to bring peace and stability back to the oil-rich state.
Osuoha clarified that in order to avert a complete collapse of law and order in Rivers State, the President had proclaimed a state of emergency, which was constitutionally linked to Fubara’s suspension.
The problem is that the president declared an emergency, which is permitted by the constitution.
Since there has been no extension and the ban was for six months, he must return to work.
As a result, he needs to come back and take over as Rivers State’s executive governor,” Osuoha said. While acknowledging the debates surrounding the legitimacy of suspending an elected governor under emergency rule, the PDP legal adviser emphasised that Fubara’s reinstatement should bring about progress and reconciliation.
“Every Nigerian anticipates a friendly connection between the governor and the House of Assembly, as well as between the legislative and executive branches of Rivers State.
“Let there also be a good relationship between him and his godfather, whoever made it possible for him to secure that position. There must be peace and togetherness in the state so that development can take place because Rivers has endured a lot,’’ he remarked.
Osuoha emphasised that no candidate functions independently of a political party in Nigeria’s political system and urged Fubara to actively engage in party operations.
Since he is still a PDP member, he ought to be actively involved in party activities. The party is paramount. The party will support you and come to your aid if you are having any issues. He gave advice, saying, “I want to see him fully participating in PDP so Nigerians will know he belongs to the party.”
Osadolor, for his part, delivered a more severe warning, advising Fubara to withstand pressure to join the APC and instead concentrate on holding people in charge of Rivers State during the emergency period accountable.
The illegality that has been inflicted upon the Rivers people will finally be addressed, and they will breathe a sigh of relief. My only request of the governor is that he resist the urge to adopt a more politically correct stance in the sake of peace.
Without justice, there can be no peace. It is his responsibility to thoroughly investigate the six months that Admiral Ibas was in office, using Rivers people’s resources for whatever purposes he may have purportedly served, Osadolor stated.
Since Ibas was never elected by the people and lacked constitutional immunity, he demanded that if wrongdoing was discovered, the administrator must be held accountable.
When misconduct is discovered, the governor should not be afraid to hold the offending party accountable.
As of the last time Osadolor checked, he had never been elected by the Rivers people, yet he was still in charge of their resources and public funds, while Governor Fubara, who had been properly elected, was suspended.
