Senate adopts Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Senate on Thursday passed and adopted the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, his deputy and the House of Assembly for six months.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this after a closed-door session on Thursday that lasted over one hour.
According to him, the Senate relied on its Orders 133, 134, 135 and 136.
Earlier, Akpabio disclosed that President Bola Tinubu wrote the Senate a letter of proclamation on the six-month suspension he slammed on Fubara, his deputy and state lawmakers following the declaration of a state of emergency.
The letter read aloud at plenary by Akpabio said: “In compliance with the provisions of Section 305, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I hereby forward, for the Constitution of the Senate, copies of the official Gazette of the State of Emergency Proclamation 2025.
READ MORE: Reps endorse state of emergency declaration in Rivers
“The main features of the proclamation are as follows.
“A declaration of a State of Emergency in one State of the Federation, namely, River State.
“The suspension from office of the Governor, his Deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly.
“An appointment of Vice-Admiral Iboete Iba, as the Administrator to administer the State something to any instruction or regulation as made from time to time be issued by me.
“While I look forward to the expeditious Constitution of the Senate, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
Akpabio, after reading the letter, said: “This letter is committed to the Committee of the entire Senate for immediate passage.”
In his nationwide broadcast, President Tinubu justified the declaration, citing the unresolved crisis in the state, which he said has defied political solutions.
He said, “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 meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.”
