President Bola Tinubu declared a six-month emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers due to political unrest and pipeline vandalism. The measure marks Nigeria’s first emergency rule in over a decade. The Nigerian Bar Association criticized the legitimacy of these suspensions, indicating a conflict between governmental actions and legal frameworks.
On Tuesday, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu implemented emergency measures in Rivers State, leading to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and state lawmakers due to an ongoing political crisis and vandalism of key pipelines. The situation has been escalating for months, particularly with a recent impeachment attempt against the governor, involving accusations of mismanagement in budget presentation and legislative assembly composition.
In a state broadcast, President Tinubu expressed disappointment in Governor Fubara for failing to address multiple incidents of pipeline vandalism, notably a recent explosion causing a fire on the Trans Niger Pipeline. He asserted that no responsible leader would permit such dire conditions to persist without taking constitutional actions to rectify them. The emergency measures will last for six months.
As part of the new order, retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas will serve as the military administrator of Rivers State, while the judiciary is expected to maintain its functions. Following the announcement, military trucks were deployed to the state government grounds to enhance security.
Within Nigeria’s constitutional framework, emergency rule is permissible under specific circumstances to uphold law and order. This marks the first emergency declaration in over a decade, a notable occurrence in a nation historically challenged by political instability and military governance.
The Nigerian Bar Association has condemned the suspensions, labeling them illegal, and stated that such declarations do not inherently lead to the dissolution of elected state governments. This declaration of emergency recalls the last instance under President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, which targeted northeastern states during the Boko Haram crisis without resulting in the suspension of state governors.
The recent suspension of River State’s Governor Siminalayi Fubara and lawmakers by President Bola Tinubu reflects significant political unrest, exacerbated by pipeline vandalism. This emergency rule, the first in over ten years, seeks to address a deepening crisis amid concerns about governance and stability. The Nigerian Bar Association’s response highlights legal challenges to the administration’s actions, suggesting ongoing conflict between constitutional authority and executive power.
Original Source: www.wral.com
