State of Emergency: Tinubu Told to Suspend Wike As President Sanctions Rivers Governor Fubara

• President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday, March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers state, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected lawmakers of the state House of Assembly for six months
• Tinubu, who issued the declaration in a national broadcast, appointed Ibokette Ibas, a retired vice admiral, as administrator 'to take charge of the affairs in the interest of the good people of Rivers state'
• Reacting to the presidential declaration in Rivers, APC's Adamu Garba urged Tinubu to also suspend Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister—apparently for his involvement in the tension-soaked situation in Rivers

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics and governance in Nigeria.

Port Harcourt, Rivers state - Adamu Garba, a former presidential hopeful, on Tuesday night, March 18, asked President Bola Tinubu to suspend Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Read also

Rivers crisis: "Who's president between Tinubu, Wike?" VDM on Fubara’s removal, state of emergency

Legit.ng reports that Garba's call comes amid the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers in the oil-rich state's House of Assembly.

The Nigerian leader cited the prolonged political crisis and governance paralysis in the oil-rich state.

Reacting to the presidential announcement, Garba, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), wrote on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account:

"Fubara suspended, Wike should be suspended too to balance the equation."

Legit.ng reports that Nyesom Wike and Governor Fubara have been locked in a protracted fight over the control of the political structures in Rivers state, which initially split the state House of Assembly into two factions.

In December 2023, Tinubu brokered a peace deal between Wike and Fubara to end the crises in the south-south state, but the peace deal later collapsed.

In his comment in October 2024, Fubara had blamed Wike’s allies for the collapse of the peace deal.

Read also

Just In: 12 governors reject Tinubu's suspension of Fubara, give reason

The governor had claimed that his opponent outsmarted him by failing to withdraw a lawsuit challenging his presentation of the 2024 budget to four lawmakers, saying that he later discovered that his opponents ambushed him.

But during a recent thanksgiving service and grand civic reception held by the people of Kalabari in honour of Wike, the minister blamed Fubara for the collapse of the peace deal.

Organised by Ijaw leaders under the aegis of the New Associates, the civic reception was held in Abalama, a town in Asari-Toro local government area (LGA) of Rivers state.

During the event, Wike accused Fubara of reneging on the peace deal brokered by Tinubu, adding that Fubara’s actions showed the governor was not reliable.

Read more on Rivers political crisis:

• Rivers: 6 times presidents have declared state of emergency in Nigerian states
• NBA sends message to Fubara amid political battle in Rivers with Wike
• 7 things to know about Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Rivers state’s new sole administrator

Read also

Rivers crisis: APC explains how Fubara is author of state of emergency

Tinubu appoints Ibokette as Rivers Administrator

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the sole administrator of Rivers state.

The appointment follows the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers state.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng