News

Rep Ugochinyere Condemns Rivers State Emergency Declaration

Published

5 hours ago

March 19, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

…Say “It Is Unconstitutional”

By Gloria Ikibah

Member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere has strongly opposed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as an unconstitutional overreach.

Speaking on the matter, Ugochinyere acknowledged that the President has the constitutional power under Section 305 to declare a state of emergency in cases of security threats.

However, he argued that Preside t Tinubu exceeded his powers by suspending Governor Similayi Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly, as well as appointing an administrator to oversee the state.

The lawmaker also accused the President of bypassing the National Assembly’s authority,as he referenced Section 11 of the Constitution, which gives the legislature, and not the executive, the power to make laws for a state if its House of Assembly becomes dysfunctional.

“The President does not have the power to suspend a democratically elected governor, deputy governor, and House of Assembly. Where did he get the power to appoint an administrator? That position is unknown to law.

“The President insulted us by usurping our constitutional power and handing it to the Federal Executive Council. Under Section 11(4), if a state assembly cannot function, the National Assembly makes the laws. But now, the President has taken that role away from us and given it to an unknown administrator”, he said.

Ugochinyere also raised concerns about the rationale for the emergency declaration, questioning whether Rivers State was truly in crisis.

He reminded Nigerians that in 2013, Tinubu who was then in opposition fiercely criticized former President Goodluck Jonathan’s state of emergency declaration in Borno and Yobe States, even though he did not remove the governors at the time.

Ugochinyere insisted that while peace in Rivers State is necessary, it must be achieved through constitutional means.

“Is there war in Rivers? Are people dying on the streets? Did the President even mention that the governor had called for peace meetings that were ignored? Instead, he unilaterally took action without considering the root cause of the political tensions,” he added.

“This decision sets a dangerous precedent. If we allow an elected governor to be suspended today, tomorrow, a president could be suspended under the same guise. I will not support this move, and I believe any true democrat should resist it,” he added.

As the National Assembly prepares to deliberate on the proclamation, the debate is expected to be intense, with lawmakers divided on the legality and implications of the President’s action.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that the House spokesperson had in a statement said the president had transmitted the letter on the state of emergency to the House yesterday and that the issue will be discussed at Wednesday plenary, but contrary to his statement the subject was not listed on the order paper.

News

JUST-IN: Fubara leaves Rivers govt house

Published

2 hours ago

March 19, 2025

Naijablitznews

Suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has vacated the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The governor reportedly moved out on Wednesday morning, ahead of the anticipated arrival of Admiral Ekwe Ibas (rtd), who has been appointed as the new Sole Administrator of the state.

A visit by Daily Trust to the Government House on Wednesday morning revealed a calm atmosphere, with at least three armoured personnel carriers stationed at the main entrance.

A security source confirmed that there had been a change of guard at the seat of power, with all of the governor’s security details replaced.

“The governor left Government House this morning and the new administrator is yet to resume. We are expecting him any moment from now. The security details in Government House have been reshuffled. I can tell you that everywhere is calm and nothing is happening as we speak now,” the source said.

Meanwhile, residents of Port Harcourt have gone about their normal business, and there have been no signs of a breakdown of law and order.

This development follows President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, citing the ongoing vandalization of pipelines and the failure of political stakeholders to resolve the crisis despite previous interventions.

News

Rivers Crisis: Reps Adjourn Without Tinubu’s Communication

Published

2 hours ago

March 19, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

…NASS has until Thursday to receive President Tinubu’s letter – Rep. Isiaka

By Gloria Ikibah

Despite earlier claims by the House of Representatives’ spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi, that President Bola Tinubu had sent a communication regarding the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, lawmakers on Wednesday confirmed that no such message was received.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that on Tuesday, Rep Rotimi in a statement said that the House would read the President’s communication during Wednesday’s plenary. However, contrary to this, no letter from Tinubu was presented before the House adjourned its sitting to Thursday.

Addressing journalists after plenary, Rep. Adegboyega Isiaka clarified that the National Assembly still has until Thursday to receive the President’s communication. However, as of Wednesday’s session, no official correspondence had been received.

He said: “As we all see, it’s becoming very worrisome and becoming a threat to democracy itself. So I think that the step the President has taken is just to ensure that we put a halt to what is happening in Rivers.And I think in my view, of course there are opinions that maybe it’s against the Constitution and all of that.

“I’m not a lawyer, I’ve not looked at that very deeply. But whatever it is, that can be tested.But a leader has to take a step, and I think that is what has happened. In terms of it coming to the House, we also expected that that would happen today, but it has not happened. But I think the law also allows that that can be done within 48 hours.So the 48 hours is still within the time frame. So let’s see what happens tomorrow, and then we can take it down from there.

Responding to questions if some members avoided plenary so that the House will not form a quorum, he said, “I don’t think there was anything about people avoiding because there will not be quorum.

Speaking further he explained that: ” The law says that it must come, and I know that the President is a democrat and will do what is necessary. Well, the letter from the President has not come, so there must be a reason for that.I’ve not asked the spokesman what was responsible for that. But the most important thing is that there is no communication today.

News

Sole Administrator may not Takeover From Fubara until NASS ratifies

Published

3 hours ago

March 19, 2025

Naijablitznews

The appointed Sole Administrator for Rivers State, Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd), will not take charge of the state’s affairs until the National Assembly ratifies the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Recall in a nationwide address on Tuesday, Tinubu announced that Vice Admiral Ibas would take over the administration of Rivers State, following the escalating political crisis that has seen the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency and suspend key officials in the state comes amid a political standoff between Governor Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike, now serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The declaration aims to restore order and resolve the ongoing crisis that has paralyzed governance in the state.

Despite the President’s declaration, sources who spoke with TheNation indicate that Vice Admiral Ibas is yet to assume leadership in Rivers State. He is expected to do so only once the National Assembly ratifies the state of emergency.

No Military Presence At Government House
Interestingly, despite declaring a state of emergency, according to TheNation, there has been no military presence at the entrance of the Government House in Port Harcourt.

Chairpersons Shared N655.932 Billion In April
Unlike previous reports indicating military deployment, investigations revealed no military tanks or personnel were stationed at the Government House gates on Wednesday.

Instead, personnel from the Department of State Security (DSS) were observed patrolling the premises. Two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), which are regularly stationed at the Government House by the police, were seen near the entrance.

However, no additional military units were present to enforce the state of emergency.

The governor reportedly moved out on Wednesday morning, ahead of the anticipated arrival of Ibas, who has been appointed as the new Sole Administrator of the state.