“TINUBU PULLS THE PLUG ON RIVERS STATE EMERGENCY, GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO GOVERNOR, ASSEMBLY”
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the end of the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, effective midnight, September 17, 2025. Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly will resume their duties on September 18.
What’s Next:
– Return to Normalcy:The state returns to democratic governance after months of political paralysis.
– Governor, Assembly Back in Action: Fubara, his deputy, and lawmakers will resume their duties, ensuring continuity of governance in Rivers State.
The President, in a nationwide address on Tuesday, said Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martins Amaewhule, will resume their duties on September 18.
Tinubu reminded political leaders that peace and cooperation are essential for delivering good governance. “The people who voted us into power expect to reap the fruits of democracy. However, that expectation will remain unrealizable in an atmosphere of violence, anarchy, and insecurity,” he said.
Tinubu recalled that the state of emergency was declared on March 18, 2025, following a breakdown of governance in Rivers. ”The House of Assembly was split, with four lawmakers backing the governor and 27 aligning with the speaker. The division left the governor unable to present appropriation bills, stalling governance and sparking fears of anarchy.”
According to the president, even the Supreme Court had described the situation as a total breakdown of governance.
He said that efforts to mediate between the warring factions failed, prompting him to invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to suspend the offices of the governor, deputy governor, and lawmakers for six months.
While the National Assembly approved the proclamation, more than 40 court cases were filed in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa challenging its validity. Tinubu described the legal pushback as part of the democratic process but defended his decision as necessary to restore law and order.
“It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation,” he said.
A Call for Cooperation
The President said recent intelligence indicates a “new spirit of understanding” among stakeholders in Rivers State, paving the way for the restoration of constitutional governance.
“I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced,” Tinubu declared.
He also urged all governors and state assemblies to prioritize peace and stability, warning that democracy cannot thrive in conditions of political chaos.
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