In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Tinubu said the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all members of the state House of Assembly will be on suspension for six months. He noted that he took the decision to prevent a total breakdown of law and order.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) will act as administrator for the six months period.
“The latest security report shows that there has been vandalism of oil pipelines in Rivers State and the governor has not taken any step.
“Based on the Section 305 of the constitution of the country, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” he said in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with key government officials including the service chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Also in attendance were the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, speaker of the House Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and deputy speaker , Ben Kalu, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director General of the Department Of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi.
