Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in Rivers State at the House of Representatives, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reinstate Governor Siminalayi Fubara before the six-month emergency rule period expires.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels Television, Abiante also called on the president to involve the National Peace Committee, led by former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, to mediate the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
Emergency Rule in Rivers Sparks Backlash
President Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing escalating political tensions. Under the emergency rule, Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were suspended for six months. Tinubu appointed former naval chief Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.) as the state’s sole administrator.
The president defended his decision under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, stating that decisive action was necessary to prevent further crisis. However, his decision—backed by the National Assembly through a controversial voice vote—has been widely condemned.
Outrage Over Suspension of Democratic Institutions
Prominent political figures, legal experts, and civil society groups have rejected the emergency rule, describing it as unconstitutional. Critics include Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF).
Abiante argued that the process lacked transparency, highlighting irregularities in how votes were cast in the National Assembly. He also refuted claims that Fubara failed to rebuild the demolished state assembly chambers, citing ongoing reconstruction efforts that the current sole administrator had inspected.
‘Rigged Intelligence’ and Calls for Mediation
The lawmaker questioned the intelligence reports that led to Tinubu’s decision, warning that they might have been manipulated.
“That is to tell us that it is either the intelligence that was relied upon may have been rigged. If in this country we could rig intelligence to the president, are we not in danger?” Abiante asked.
He urged Tinubu to allow the National Peace Committee—comprising figures such as Bishop Matthew Kukah and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III—to mediate the crisis.
“It would be wrong to allow this issue to fester for six months because it risks turning Nigerians against one another,” he said. “On the streets of Port Harcourt, the perception is that this is a battle to seize control of Rivers’ resources.”
Abiante also reminded the president that he received votes from Rivers State during the 2023 elections, cautioning against alienating the people of the oil-rich state.
Opposition Lawmakers Under Fire
Policy analyst Baba Yusuf criticized opposition lawmakers for failing to oppose the emergency rule.
“The National Assembly, especially the opposition caucus, has lost its voice. They should have stood against this blatant abuse of democracy,” Yusuf stated.
Social commentator Dayo Akintobi echoed these sentiments, describing the suspension of an elected governor as a dangerous precedent.
“The framers of the Constitution never intended for the president to have such sweeping powers,” he warned.
With growing pressure from political and legal voices, the controversy surrounding the emergency rule in Rivers State continues to intensify.
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