Rivers State: How a Political Feud Led to a State of Emergency

Guardian Nigeria

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00:00The political drama in River State has taken a drastic turn, with Governor Similai Fubara's

00:06suspension, the declaration of a state of emergency, and the appointment of a sole

00:11administrator. What started as a power struggle between FCT Minister and former Governor of River

00:16State, Jason Weeke, and his former protegee, has now escalated into a full-blown constitutional

00:23crisis. But how did we get here? And what does this mean for rivers, its people, and Nigerian

00:30politics? The crisis traced back to the complex political relationship between former Governor

00:36Jason Weeke and his successor, Similai Fubara. While Weeke was instrumental in Fubara's rise to

00:42power, many believed that he intended to retain control over the state's political affairs.

00:47However, tensions grew as Fubara began asserting his independence, challenging Weeke's influence,

00:55but rather than engaging in direct confrontation, Weeke responded with a vile statement,

01:00implying betrayal and warning that, at the appropriate time, we will know who is right.

01:06He also stressed the importance of political loyalty, signaling that he would not allow his

01:12influence to erode. And even as the tensions escalated, he continued to downplay the conflict,

01:18dismissing it as an internal party issue. Yet, these tensions quickly boiled over,

01:24leading to a dramatic escalation in River State politics. In October 2023, impeachment proceedings

01:32against Fubara triggered chaos at the State House Assembly, where security forces used water cannons

01:38on protesters. While Weeke was widely accused of orchestrating the impeachment attempts,

01:44he never took direct responsibility, instead continuing to dismiss the crisis as an internal

01:50issue. Then, in December 2023, several lawmakers loyal to Weeke defected, further destabilizing the

01:58state's political structure and reinforcing the perception that Weeke still commanded

02:03significant influence. And just days later, on December 13th, Fubara took a shocking step

02:10by ordering the demolition of the River State House of Assembly complex. This action paralyzed

02:15the legislative arm of government, leaving the state without a functional law-making body.

02:21But beyond the political crisis, River State also faced significant legal and financial crisis.

02:27On February 28th, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld a ruling barring the Central Bank of Nigeria

02:34CBN and the Accountant General of the Federation from releasing River State monthly allocations,

02:40a decision that significantly affected governance. In addition, the court nullified the local

02:46government elections conducted on October 5th, 2024, further complicating the political landscape.

02:52In response, Fubara pledged to comply with the ruling and sorted the escalated tensions

02:58by inviting lawmakers for a meeting. However, the legislators rejected the invitation,

03:04accusing the governor of bypassing due process. Days later, Fubara wrote to the assembly again,

03:10requesting a new date to present the 2025 appropriation bill. But the assembly responded

03:16by adjourning the plenary indefinitely. But while political tensions brewed,

03:21security concerns further destabilized the state. Earlier on Tuesday, an excursion occurred at a

03:27section of the Trans-Niger Pipeline TNC in Bodo community, Gokarna local government area.

03:34So, with governance paralyzed and security threats mounting, President Bola Tsunogu

03:39invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, which allows a state of emergency in cases of

03:46national danger, disaster, or terrorism. As a result, Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi

03:53Odoo, and all members of the State House of Assembly were suspended for six months.

03:58Meanwhile, President Tsunogu appointed Vice-Admiral Ibok Ikwe Ibas, retired, as the sole

04:05administrator of the state, granting him full control over governance during the emergency

04:10period. However, the judiciary remains unaffected, ensuring courts and legal institutions continue to

04:17function independently. Yet, as expected, the declaration has triggered intense criticism

04:23from various political figures and activists. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned

04:29the move, calling it political manipulation and accusing Tsunogu of interfering in state

04:34affairs for partisan reasons. Similarly, rapper and activist Fowles, amongst others,

04:41criticized the decision, arguing that removing an elected governor in this manner is unconstitutional.

04:48And across the political landscape, many believe that Weeke is at the center of it all,

04:53given his long-standing influence in River State and his current position as the Minister of the

04:59Federal Capital Territory, FCT. One thing is certain, this political drama is far from over.

05:05Stay with us for more updates. Join the conversation on our social media platforms

05:10at Guardian Nigeria and website guardian.ng. Share your thoughts using

05:15the hashtag RiverStateCrisis. Let's break this down together. Until next time.

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