Political leaders, especially governors from the south-south, are working to resolve the Rivers state crisis following President Bola Tinubu’s emergency declaration on March 18
The presidency insisted the emergency rule was a temporary measure to allow reconciliation, with efforts led by the Senate and south-south governors
Multiple sources within the presidency have disclosed that political leaders from the south-south region, particularly governors, are working to reconcile the warring factions in Rivers state. . …CONTINUE READING
This move comes in response to the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, citing governance breakdown due to the conflict between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state’s lawmakers, as well as attacks on oil facilities.
As part of the emergency measures, Tinubu suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the Rivers State House of Assembly. In their place, he appointed retired Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ette Ibas, as the sole administrator.
The president invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to justify his decision, though many stakeholders have criticised the move as excessive.
The House of Representatives is set to announce a committee to manage the affairs of the Rivers State House of Assembly. Deputy Spokesman Philip Agbese disclosed this in a phone interview on Sunday, stating that consultations were ongoing within and outside the National Assembly.
“The speaker and House leadership are addressing the issue, and a public announcement will be made soon regarding the committee to be set up. At the moment, the House is primarily concerned with restoring peace in Rivers State,” Agbese said.
The House had previously expressed concerns over Tinubu’s directive that the administrator report to the Federal Executive Council. Lawmakers argued that the president’s reliance on Section 305 of the Constitution must be considered alongside Section 11, which grants the National Assembly authority to legislate on behalf of a state assembly when it becomes dysfunctional
The senior special assistant to the FCT minister on public communication and social media, Lere Olayinka, said Minister Nyesom Wike was not opposed to peace talks. However, he stressed that Fubara should have implemented the Supreme Court judgment immediately after it was delivered.
“The minister is open to discussions for peace. It is the duty of the National Assembly to mediate. If the Presidency wants to do the same, that’s their prerogative,” Olayinka stated.
Reacting to calls for Wike’s suspension from the president’s cabinet due to the crisis, Olayinka dismissed such suggestions.
“People can always talk, but whether their comments are reasonable is another issue,” he added.
Fubara open to dialogue
Fubara’s special assistant on electronic media, Jerry Omatsogunwa, reaffirmed the governor’s commitment to peace, stating that he had consistently extended an olive branch to the Assembly.
“If you follow the events leading to the emergency rule, you’ll see that the governor has been the peaceful one, while the Assembly has been the aggressor. Instead of responding to his call for dialogue, they adjourned sine die,” Omatsogunwa said.
He also emphasised that Fubara had begun implementing the Supreme Court judgment, Leadership reported. “The governor has been peaceful in his approach.
The real question is whether the lawmakers, who seem to be taking directives from Abuja, are willing to embrace mediation.”
