Eight reasons I declared state of emergency in Rivers -Tinubu

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It is no more news that President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Governor Fubara, the Deputy Governor, and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Here are the eight reasons that informed his decision as contained in his nationwide broadcast.

1. Political Crisis and Governance Failure: The ongoing political crisis in Rivers State has resulted in a breakdown of governance, with the state unable to function effectively and the people unable to benefit from democratic governance.

2. Demolition of the House of Assembly: Governor Fubara’s demolition of the state House of Assembly on December 13, 2023, and his failure to rebuild it for over 14 months, which disrupted legislative functions and governance.

3. Disregard for Constitutional Order: The Supreme Court found that the Governor had violated constitutional principles by undermining the legislature and acting in a dictatorial manner, collapsing the three arms of government.

4. Non-Compliance with Supreme Court Orders: The Governor ignored the Supreme Court’s directives to restore constitutional democracy in the state, including the passing of the Appropriation Bill by the House of Assembly.

5. Militant Threats and Security Concerns: Militant groups have threatened violence, and the Governor has failed to take action against them. Additionally, there have been incidents of vandalism of pipelines without any response from the state leadership.

6. Inaction on Security and Governance: The Governor’s failure to collaborate with the legislature or address the security situation, including not preventing militant activities or taking necessary actions to restore order.

7. Failure to Request State of Emergency: Despite the ongoing crisis, the Governor and Deputy Governor failed to request a state of emergency, as required by the Constitution, prompting the President to intervene directly.

8. Need for Extraordinary Measures: Given the severity of the situation, the President determined that extraordinary constitutional measures were necessary to restore good governance, peace, order, and security in the state.