State of Emergency: Soldiers take over Rivers Government House
Soldiers have taken over the Rivers State government building just hours after President Bola Tinubu proclaimed a state of emergency there.
An armoured personnel carrier has also been stationed at the entrance of the Government House on Azikiwe Road in Port Harcourt.
It is unclear whether Governor Siminalayi Fubara was still at his official residence when the military seized over at 9 p.m.
On Tuesday evening, tensions rose in Rivers State as President Tinubu declared a state of emergency to end the long-running political feud between the state governor, Siminalayo Fubara, and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
Residents and motorists in Port Harcourt, the state capital, rushed home to their families after the proclamation, fearing a breakdown in law and order.
In his nationwide broadcast, President Tinubu justified the statement by noting the state’s unresolved crisis, which he claimed had defied political solutions.
He went on: “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 meanwhile, I hereby appoint Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to manage the state’s affairs in the best interests of the people of Rivers.
To be clear, the judicial branch of Rivers State is unaffected by this statement and continues to operate in accordance with its constitutional mandate.
Meanwhile, Fubara, the suspended governor, has urged state citizens to keep calm, saying he will “engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that our democracy remains strong.”
In a statement headed “Press Release by the Executive Governor of Rivers State,” Fubara accused lawmakers loyal to Wike of impeding his efforts to comply with the Supreme Court decision.
His statement stated, “My beloved Rivers People, As we negotiate this difficult period in our state’s political history, I feel a sense of duty and tranquilly.As governor, I have followed my constitutional oath of office and had a strong sense of duty in all my judgements.
We prioritised protecting lives and property while ensuring the future of our beloved state.Despite the political impasse, we have remained dedicated to constitutional order and the rule of law, prioritising the interests of our people above all else.
However, while political affairs in Rivers will now be overseen by Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas for six months, political stakeholders, parties, and lawyers have denounced President Tinubu’s proclamation as undemocratic.