Shocks as Tinubu deploys soldiers to occupy Rivers Govt House, after declaring state of emergency in Rivers
By KEMI KASUMU
Some of them agreed that the Tinubu’s action, deploying 400 soldiers in situation like this where he himself has not been able to free himself from allegation of involvement in the enablement of the crisis in Rivers like in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and others, will further overstretch the Nigerian military that is already much pre-occupied with fight against terrorism and banditry across Nigeria especially Northern Nigeria.
Following his declaration of state of emergency whereby sacking the democratically elected government of Siminalayi Fubara in Rivers State on Tuesday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deployed armed security operatives, including the Nigerian Army, to occupy the Rivers State Government House following.
According to a media report, a video obtained Monday evening shows several military vans filled with armed operatives heading toward the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
This comes shortly after President Tinubu, during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing political instability and security concerns.
Some Nigerians, who responded to questions during a street interview by Our Reporters in Port Harcourt, however, knocked the behaviour coming from the man who was elected to govern Nigeria democratically and not militarily.
Some of them agreed that the Tinubu’s action, deploying 400 soldiers in situation like this where he himself has not been able to free himself from allegation of involvement in the enablement of the crisis in Rivers like in Kano, Kaduna, Lagos and others, will further overstretch the Nigerian military that is already much pre-occupied with fight against terrorism and banditry across Nigeria especially Northern Nigeria.
“This is a vindication of His Royal Majesty Mujahid Asari-Dokubo. You would remember and I read in your online newspaper like in other media where he accused the President of plotting the crisis in Rivers to take the state control and give it to his own party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). That is what has just happened where you knew well that your Minister, Wike, was the major cause of a crisis or you saw a crisis situation involving your minister but decided to hold the two hands of the other man for your minister to continue the beating. This is how Tinubu enabled the chaos in Rivers State and deploying military, 400 armed security operatives? It is one aspect that is condemnable,” one of respondents, who simply identified himself a concerned Nigeria, said.
The declaration decision, which has been met with fierce criticism, saw the immediate suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
“In the circumstances, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State… it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provisions of Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March 2025,” Tinubu announced.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO: Tinubu Deploys Military To Take Over Rivers State Government House After Suspending Governor Fubara
He further stated, “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 an initial period of six months.”
To oversee the state’s affairs, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the Administrator of Rivers State. However, he emphasized that Ibas would not have the authority to make new laws, only to manage governance and restore stability.
The crisis in Rivers State stems from a deepening political feud between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Tensions began shortly after Fubara assumed office in May 2023, with Wike allegedly seeking to control the state’s political structure from Abuja. However, Fubara resisted Wike’s influence, leading to a bitter power struggle that saw 27 pro-Wike lawmakers defect from the PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023.
The defection gave Wike’s loyalists a legislative advantage, setting the stage for a failed impeachment attempt against Fubara. The political turmoil escalated in October 2023 when the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was set on fire during a violent confrontation between pro-Fubara and pro-Wike factions.
The Supreme Court’s ruling on February 28, 2025, further complicated the crisis, as it has been seen by some analysts as going beyond the scope of the original case.
The PDP accused the court of bias, stating that the ruling effectively legitimised the lawmakers’ defection and paved the way for the federal government’s intervention.
