In a dramatic turn of events, President Bola Tinubu has suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing him of covertly encouraging militants to sabotage oil pipelines in the state. The shocking allegation was made by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who claimed that while Fubara may not have directly ordered the attacks, he failed to dissuade the militants from carrying out the vandalism.
The move comes just hours after Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats. Fubara, his deputy, and the entire state House of Assembly have been stripped of their powers for an initial six-month period, with Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) appointed as the sole administrator.
The crisis, rooted in a bitter power struggle between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, has paralyzed governance in the oil-rich state. Tensions reached a boiling point after Fubara demolished the state Assembly complex, prompting 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike to defect to the APC, triggering legal battles over their legitimacy.
Adding fuel to the fire, a Supreme Court ruling on February 28, 2025, slammed Fubara’s leadership as unconstitutional, warning that Rivers had effectively collapsed into a one-man dictatorship. The situation took an explosive turn—literally—when two pipeline blasts rocked the state, further justifying Tinubu’s emergency intervention.
With Fubara now sidelined and Tinubu tightening his grip on the state, critics are questioning whether this is a genuine move to restore order or a politically motivated power grab. As Rivers State braces for the fallout, the nation watches to see what happens next in this high-stakes political showdown.
