Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all state lawmakers for six months, citing security concerns and pipeline vandalism.
In a national address on Tuesday, Tinubu said militants had attacked vital oil infrastructure, including the Trans-Niger Pipeline, without intervention from state authorities. The pipeline damage, estimated to cost $14 million daily in lost revenue, heightened tensions amid an ongoing political rift within the state.
The move has sparked backlash, with opposition groups and legal experts calling it unconstitutional. The Nigerian Bar Association condemned the suspension of elected officials, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) labeled it an attempt at “state capture.” Labour Party’s Peter Obi also denounced the decision as “reckless.”
Fubara, a PDP member, responded by insisting that Rivers remains “safe, secure, and peaceful,” downplaying the crisis.
While previous Nigerian presidents have declared emergency rule in response to insurgencies, critics argue Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers is politically motivated, raising concerns about democratic governance in the country.
Source: Swifteradio.com
