President Tinubu Lifts Emergency Rule In Rivers, Gives Fubara Go Ahead To Resume Tomorrow

President Bola Tinubu has ended the emergency rule in Rivers state and asked Siminalayi Fubara, the suspended governor, to resume work on Thursday, September 18.

In a press release, the President also asked Ngozi Nma Odu, the deputy governor, and members of the Rivers state house of assembly to resume their duties.

The emergency rule was declared in the state six months ago following prolonged political unrest.

“It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today,” the statement reads.

“The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025.”

Tinubu noted that his decision to impose emergency rule in March followed “a total paralysis of governance” caused by an irreconcilable rift between the governor and the state assembly.

He said the constitutional impasse made it impossible for the governor to present appropriation bills, while insecurity, including the vandalism of vital oil pipelines, escalated.

“The serious constitutional impasse brought governance in the State to a standstill. Even the Supreme Court, in one of its judgments, held that there was no government in Rivers State,” he said.

“My intervention and that of other well-meaning Nigerians proved abortive as both sides stuck rigidly to their positions to the detriment of peace and development of the State.”

The president noted that the six-month suspension of the governor, deputy governor, and lawmakers was intended to halt the drift toward anarchy.

He commended the national assembly for approving the proclamation, traditional rulers for their support, and residents of Rivers for their patience.

While acknowledging dissenting voices and the over 40 lawsuits challenging the emergency declaration, Tinubu insisted the action was constitutional and necessary.

“What needs to be said is that the power to declare a state of emergency is an inbuilt constitutional tool to address situations of actual or threatened breakdown of public order and public safety, which require extraordinary measures to return the State to peace, order and security. It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation,” he said.

Tinubu said intelligence reports indicated that stakeholders in Rivers have now shown “a new spirit of understanding” and a readiness to return to democratic governance.

“I therefore do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced at the beginning of it,” he added.

The president urged leaders at state and national levels to draw lessons from the Rivers crisis and prioritise peace and cooperation between the executive and legislature.

“As a stakeholder in democratic governance, I believe that the need for a harmonious existence and relationship between the executive and the legislature is key to a successful government, whether at the state or national level,” he said.

“The people who voted us into power expect to reap the fruits of democracy. However, that expectation will remain unrealizable in an atmosphere of violence, anarchy, and insecurity borne by misguided political activism and Machiavellian manipulations among the stakeholders.”