Heavily armed military officers have taken control of the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt following President Bola Tinubu’s dramatic declaration of a state of emergency. The announcement, made during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night, comes amid a deepening political crisis in the oil-rich state.
In an unprecedented move, Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, for an initial six-month period, citing threats to governance and stability. All elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have also been suspended.
To restore order, the president has appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the state’s Administrator, effectively sidelining the existing government structure. Within hours of the announcement, military trucks filled with heavily armed personnel were seen securing strategic locations, particularly around the Government House.
Tinubu’s decisive intervention follows a high-level security meeting at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa with service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police. The move is expected to trigger political and legal battles, as stakeholders react to what some see as a crackdown on democracy.
With growing concerns over the implications of this state of emergency, all eyes are now on Rivers State, a critical economic hub for Nigeria.
