By Funmilayo Akinyemi
President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria.
Tinubu who suspended the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and the State House of Assembly, cited prolonged political crisis and governance paralysis, and has suspended the Governor, deputy governor, and house of assembly members.
The President in an emergency broadcast on Tuesday, expressed deep concern over the situation.
”I feel greatly disturbed by the political crisis in Rivers. The State has been at a standstill, and the people have been deprived of good governance.
“Fourteen months after Governor Fubara demolished the House of Assembly, it remains unbuilt. Many Nigerians have intervened, just as I did, but their efforts have been to no avail.
“No responsible President will stand by without taking action. To restore good governance and peace in this circumstance, it has become imperative to declare a state-ofgemergency. By this declaration, Governor Fubara is hereby suspended,” he said.
The declaration comes hours after another explosion was reported at an oil facility in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
On the same day, the Trans-Niger Pipeline, operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), went up in flames, further escalating tensions in the State.
