Presidency Justifies Rivers State Emergency, Cites Security Threats

Babatunji Wusu  –

• Suspension and State of Emergency: President Bola Tinubu suspended Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly for six months, appointing a sole administrator.

• Security Concerns: Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga stated that intelligence reports indicated militants were preparing to attack oil pipelines, posing a threat to national security and the economy.

• Legal Basis: The Presidency cited Section 305 of the Constitution, which allows the President to act in cases of threats to law, order, or economic stability.

• Allegations Against Fubara: Onanuga claimed that militants were waiting for Fubara’s directive to sabotage vital oil infrastructure, which could have severely impacted Nigeria’s oil production.

The Nigerian Presidency has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara and declare a state of emergency in the state, citing national security concerns. Tinubu’s action also included the suspension of the deputy governor and state lawmakers for six months, with a sole administrator appointed to oversee the state’s affairs.

According to Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, intelligence reports revealed that militants in the Niger Delta were planning to sabotage critical oil infrastructure. In an article titled “Imagine Rivers State Without a State of Emergency,” published on Sunday, Onanuga explained that these threats could have led to a major economic and security crisis.

He further alleged that the militants were awaiting orders from Fubara before launching attacks on pipelines, which could have reversed Nigeria’s oil production gains since 2023. The Presidency stressed that such threats necessitated decisive intervention under Section 305 of the Constitution, which grants the President emergency powers in situations that endanger national stability.

While the move has sparked debates, the government insists it was necessary to prevent economic sabotage and restore order in Rivers State.