By Clifford Ndujihe, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Daniel Abia, John Alechenu & Luminous Jannamike
LAGOS — At some point to the top of emergency rule in Rivers State, the polity is awash with expectations.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and members of the State Home of Meeting, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, are anticipated to return to their seats tomorrow, if President Bola Tinubu, who lower his 10-day trip overseas to return to Nigeria yesterday, didn’t prolong the rule.
Up to now, all seems to be set for the termination of the emergency rule and the reinstatement of elected officers.
Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas, retd, who has tidied up his handover be aware, and held a church thanksgiving service, final Sunday, has referred to as on individuals of the state to nurture the present peace constructed by his administration previously six months.
Talking at a public lecture, entitled “Good Governance and Democratic Dividends,” Ibas stated yesterday that Thanksgiving final Sunday was vital. They reminded the those that with out God and the resilience of the individuals, “this journey of my administration would have been unattainable.
“This public lecture is greater than an mental train. It’s, in reality, a covenant renewal with the individuals of Rivers.”
Ibas stated: “As a nation, our democracy should ship and governance should at all times be rooted in service. Standing earlier than you, we really feel with gratitude and humility, gratitude for the help you gave me as your administrator and humility that I used to be referred to as to serve in such a defining second within the historical past of this nice state.
“After we started this project on March 18, 2025, our core mandate was to revive peace and stability. By the grace of God and with the cooperation of all stakeholders, we now have come this far. Most importantly was the peacefully carried out native authorities elections restoring democratic governance to the grassroots, the extent of presidency closest to the individuals.”
‘Emergency rule vital’
In accordance with him, the emergency rule was by no means a alternative. “It was a necessity introduced upon us by insecurity, political deadlock and breakdown of belief. But, in hindsight it provided us enduring classes that peace is priceless, with out safety, one other aspiration is feasible, that when governance is weakened, opportunism fills the vacuum, endangering lives and livelihoods and that the indomitable spirit of Rivers individuals can’t be damaged. They endured, they persevered and have remained steadfast.
“The soundness we now have restored is the muse upon which democracy is now rebuilt. Our visitor speaker has completed justice to the theme of the lecture, good governance and democratic dividends. My position right here is to supply my honest gratitude to my pricey individuals of Rivers for all that we now have labored exhausting collectively to realize within the final six months.”
He expressed gratitude to the individuals of the state for the help which “has been most humbling and I’ll stay eternally grateful to you all. I plead with you to re-dedicate yourselves to our collective future, one ordained by God.”
The keynote Speaker, Prof Abiodun Amuda-Kannike, harped on the sustenance of democracy within the nation.
Combined reactions path emergency rule
Because the emergency rule ends, blended reactions proceed to path the declaration.
Civil society teams and opposition political events, yesterday, expressed blended emotions over the state of democracy in Rivers State following the rule, and suspension of democratic constructions.
President Tinubu had on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency within the state within the wake of a protracted political disaster between the instant previous governor and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, and his anointed successor, Fubara.
Rivers elders sue for unity, collaboration
To make sure peace and progress of the state, the Rivers State Elders Council, RSEC, yesterday, urged residents and leaders of the state to unite.
In a press release by the chairman, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, the elders stated the anticipated restoration of democracy “affords us a chance to replicate on a lot of points: The place we’re coming from, what to do to keep away from recurrence of the unlucky circumstances we discovered ourselves and considerably, maintain peace, unity and improvement in our beloved Rivers State.
“For us as leaders and members of the Rivers State Elders Council, we want to state and attraction as follows: We urge all stakeholders, with out exception, to embrace the peace and reconciliation that has now returned to our pricey state.
“We additionally admonish the few people and people who find themselves nonetheless fanning embers of discord to come back to phrases with the truth that the disaster is over and cease making inflammatory statements, inciting rhetoric within the media and whipping up sentiments for his or her egocentric pursuits.
‘’They need to prioritise the curiosity of the state and permit Governor Fubara and the Home of Meeting to work collectively with out additional distractions.”
PDP warns Fubara in opposition to defection, calls for probe of six-month interim rule
Additionally yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Social gathering, PDP, urged Fubara to remain loyal to the get together, reject strikes by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to woo him, and examine how Rivers State was run in the course of the six months he was suspended underneath emergency rule.
In separate interviews with Vanguard, PDP Deputy Nationwide Authorized Adviser, Barrister Okechukwu Osuoha, and PDP Deputy Nationwide Youth Chief, Timothy Osadolor, stated Fubara’s return should be marked by accountability, loyalty to the PDP, and efforts to revive peace and stability to the oil-rich state.
Osuoha defined that Fubara’s suspension was constitutionally tied to a state of emergency declared by the President to stop a complete breakdown of regulation and order in Rivers State.
“The problem is that there was an emergency declaration by the President, constitutionally, which is allowed
“He has to come back again to workplace as a result of the suspension was for six months, and there was no extension.
Subsequently, he should return and assume his position as government governor of Rivers State,” Osuoha acknowledged. The PDP authorized adviser acknowledged controversies surrounding the legality of suspending an elected governor underneath emergency rule however pressured that Fubara’s return ought to usher in reconciliation and improvement.
“Each Nigerian expects a cordial relationship between the manager and the legislative arms of Rivers State, between the governor and the Home of Meeting.
“Let there even be relationship between him and his godfather, whoever made it doable for him to safe that place. There should be peace and unity within the state in order that improvement can happen as a result of Rivers has suffered quite a bit,’’ he stated.
Osuoha additionally referred to as on Fubara to actively take part in get together actions, stressing that in Nigeria’s political system, no candidate operates independently of a political get together.
“He’s nonetheless a member of the PDP and will take part absolutely in get together affairs. Social gathering is supreme. When you have any drawback, the get together will come to your rescue and help you. I need to see him collaborating absolutely in PDP so Nigerians will know he belongs to the get together,” he suggested.
On his half, Osadolor issued a sterner warning, urging Fubara to withstand stress to defect to the APC and as a substitute give attention to holding accountable those that oversaw Rivers State in the course of the emergency interval.
“The Rivers individuals will heave a sigh of aid that the illegality wrought upon them will lastly be addressed. The one factor I ask of the governor is that he shouldn’t fall for voices calling for political correctness within the title of peace.
‘’There isn’t a peace with out justice. The onus lies on him to completely interrogate these six months that Admiral Ibas spent in workplace, appropriating the sources of Rivers individuals for no matter pursuits he may need allegedly served,’’ Osadolor stated.
He insisted that the administrator should face justice if wrongdoing was uncovered, mentioning that Ibas was by no means elected by the individuals and didn’t have constitutional immunity.
“At any time when wrongdoing is discovered, the governor shouldn’t hesitate to make him face the complete weight of the regulation.
“The final time I checked, he was by no means elected by the Rivers individuals, and but he presided over their sources and taxpayers’ cash, whereas Governor Fubara, who was duly elected, was suspended,” Osadolor declared.
Fubara returning a conquered man — CUPP
Nationwide Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Events, CUPP, Chief Peter Ameh, advised Vanguard in an interview, in Abuja, yesterday, that he didn’t anticipate a lot from Governor Fubara on his return as a result of the governor “can be returning to workplace a conquered man.”
Ameh, who can also be a chieftain of Labour Social gathering, LP, stated: “The governor, sadly, has surrendered to federal may. He can now think about his every day chores of paying contractors, employees salaries and signing checks.
“It’s a unhappy commentary on what democracy must be. He’s now surrounded by individuals inside and out of doors his cupboard whose allegiance is just to Wike and the Abuja cabal. What has occurred is that democracy has been given a bloody nostril.
‘’All establishments of the federal authorities had been deployed to cow the individuals of River State into submission.
“How else can anybody clarify the illegality perpetuated within the title of native authorities elections underneath the watch of the army ruler of that state inside the interval? Except the individuals rise and demand that the precise issues are completed and that their votes in upcoming elections actually rely, I’m afraid nothing will change.”
Rivers individuals are the victims — Okorie
Talking in an identical vein, the founding Nationwide Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Chekwas Okorie, stated: “The victims of this entire disaster are the individuals of Rivers State. I see governance struggling as a result of this governor gave up just about all the pieces in the course of the course of negotiations.
“At the least for the subsequent six months, he can be able to do something Wike and the President ask him to do, even when it is not going to profit Rivers individuals. “All through this entire problem, Governor Fubara didn’t assert himself as a governor elected by the individuals of Rivers State to symbolize them.
“Are you able to evaluate him with President Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos State? Tinubu stood as much as President Olusegun Obasanjo, a retired common. He knew he loved immunity and reached out to individuals, he not solely survived Obasanjo, he thrived.
“Could also be Fubara will develop some muscle when the elections draw close to and there’s nothing left to lose. I see him shifting into one other get together, maybe, to make pals and depart a legacy to be remembered for.”
Emergency rule pointless
A public affairs commentator, Israel Edache, argued that the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers at a time there was no unrest or severe menace to peace was a tragic reminder that ‘godfathers’ will stay an enormous burden on our democracy.”
His phrases: “The emergency rule was declared as a result of a godfather was offended that the political construction was being taken away from him. He elicited the help of the President to ship a message. It’s unlucky that our flesh pressers have discovered little or no, if something, from our collective historical past as a nation.
“Can we anticipate any severe enchancment within the situation of dwelling of Rivers State individuals with Fubara’s return? I doubt it very a lot. I can be glad if he proves me unsuitable on the finish of the day. Solely God is aware of what grew to become of the case filed by the Nigerian Bar Affiliation, NBA, in opposition to the emergency rule.”
Raging controversy
Certainly, critics described the declaration together with the suspension of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Odu, and your complete State Home of Meeting as a breach of the 1999 Structure.
The 1999 Structure as amended in Part 305 supplies that the President could declare a state of emergency underneath sure situations: warfare or invasion, breakdown of public order and security, pure disasters, or different public hazard that threatens the federation.
It additionally calls for procedural safeguards, offering that after proclaimed, the declaration should be transmitted to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the Home; Nationwide Meeting approval is required inside two days if in session, or 10 days after reconvening, if not.
The Structure requires approval by two-thirds majority of senators and members of the Home of Representatives in every chamber to validate the president’s declaration of emergency rule.
Nonetheless, the lawmakers used voice vote, as a substitute of recorded votes, which drew criticisms then.
Critics additionally argued that whereas Tinubu invoked Part 305, not one of the constitutional situations justified eradicating elected officers or suspending legislative features. These powers are separate and require particular constitutional processes, equivalent to impeachment underneath Part 188, or different lawful mechanisms.
Tinubu again from trip
In the meantime, President Bola Tinubu final night time returned to Abuja from his working trip.
Recall that the President departed for France on September 4, 2025, to spend a part of his annual vacation and was initially scheduled to divide the interval between France and the UK.
A press release earlier than his departure for the holiday had acknowledged that “the holiday will final 10 working days.”
Nonetheless, Particular Adviser to the President on Info and Technique, Bayo Onanuga on Monday in a press release, stated President Tinubu had concluded his work trip, forward of schedule and can return to Abuja on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, to renew official duties.
The assertion learn: “Final week in Paris, President Tinubu held a non-public luncheon together with his French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron, on the Élysée Palace.
“Each leaders reviewed key areas of cooperation between Nigeria and France and agreed to deepen the partnership for mutual prosperity and international stability.”
Though no motive was superior for the President’s resolution to chop quick his trip, Vanguard gathered that his early return could also be reference to the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State, which expires tomorrow, as he’s anticipated to make a proclamation ending the emergency rule.
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