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Lateef Fagbemi, the attorney general of the Federation, pointed fingers at Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers State, on Wednesday for being to blame for the oil-rich state’s political crisis.

The AGF claimed that Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd) was appointed as the sole administration in response to President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of emergency rule in Rivers State, the governor’s suspension, and other events.

Fagbemi claimed that Fubara refused to rebuild the State House of Assembly Complex after it was destroyed to avoid being impeached and that he had resisted reconstruction.

READ MORE: Tinubu Is Ibok-ete Ibas’s sole administrator for Rivers

The Supreme Court’s decision on February 28, 2025 was ignored by the justice minister, who claimed that Fubara had miscalculated cautioned militants who had threatened to blow pipelines in the state. He claimed that the militant responsible for the threats had no words to dissuade.

He claimed that the situation could continue because it had severely damaged the country’s economic foundation.

Fagbemi added that Fubara, who had received an impeachment notice, could use some form of saving grace from the emergency rule declaration.

The governor would have completely lost and lost if it had been allowed to proceed in its entirety.

In a way, the AGF said, which would have ended up with both the governor and the deputy governor serving the entirety of their four-year term with the remainder of what they have, a balance of two years and two months, and prevents the impeachment.

RELATED: Nigeria’s Emergency Laws Since 1999

Wike is found not guilty.

Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), should not be taken into consideration in the Supreme Court’s decision, according to Fagbemi, who claimed it should not be taken personally.

Rivers State’s immediate-past governor Wike has been tussling with Fubara, his separated former political godson, for about two years. The pro-Wike Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule was supported by the apex court.

According to Fagbemi, Wike should not be involved in the situation because he was not accountable for Fubara’s actions because he failed to abide by the state’s constitutional requirements for obtaining the legislature’s consent in the course of running the state.

He said, “There are times when it comes to national issues, we have to come out loud and sincere. In this situation, where should the FCT minister be placed? He was the one who demanded that the Assembly be dissolved.

He claimed that the governor should not give the House of Assembly the budget. He was the one who gave the governor’s advice against ratifying the commissioner-nominees through the House of Assembly?

“I don’t know because you need to examine the facts presented in a case.” These crucial conclusions were made by the Supreme Court. The FCT minister was absent.

“He would have featured on the side of the legislators if he had featured, but what you have here is let everyone stay home for the first six months,” he said. Therefore, I can’t see his hands in the present.

Fagbemi advised all those opposed to the president’s decision to direct their support to the National Assembly to veto his decree.

In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and fired members of the House of Assembly there.

According to Tinubu, who relyed on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to support his position, he can’t continue to observe the political deterioration in Rivers.

Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), among others, have expressly rejected and condemned the suspension of Fubara and other democratically elected representatives.

Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers state and immediate former minister of transportation, is joining the growing opposition to the governor’s suspension of his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and state legislators in the wake of the state’s state of emergency.

President Bola Tinubu suspended the governor, his deputy, and all of the state’s lawmakers on Tuesday following the state’s unending political crisis in the South-South state.

Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) was chosen as the president’s administrator for the initial six months.

READ MORE: Tinubu Is Ibok-ete Ibas’s sole administrator for Rivers

However, Amaechi, who presided over Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, unwaveringly denounced the President’s decision, claiming it demonstrates a country’s descent into totalitarianism and represents a power grab.

Amaechi claimed in a statement on Wednesday that Tinubu’s action was a clear violation of the Nigerian Constitution.

He urged well-intentioned Nigerians to speak out, particularly the Nigerian Governors Forum, who, in his opinion, has the power to “reverse the President’s unlawful actions.”

The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, abruptly and without explanation, condemns the governor of Rivers State, the deputy governor of Rivers State, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“With this singular action, Mr. President technically slowed down and shortened democracy in Rivers State.” This flagrantly violates the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution, which Mr. President obviated.

A State Governor’s removal from office is clearly defined in Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution. Additionally, it does not contain a President’s official promulgation, decree, or declaration. He cannot, therefore, give himself such authority.

A democratically elected state governor is not able to be removed from office by a president’s proclamation. Even within the bounds of Section 305, which the President cited in his broadcast, Mr. President’s suspension of two important democratically elected branches of government in Rivers State is a flagrant violation of our Constitution.

The unlawful suspension of democratically elected bodies in my beloved Rivers State highlights a deliberate attempt by forces and individuals to seize control of the state under the purview of the Constitution. The recent events in Rivers State, highlighting a clear orchestrated plot by some people to impose themselves on the people, are unconstitutional.

All people of goodwill and conscience should rise up to protest this ominous violation of our Constitution and the rape of our democracy at this unfunny point in our country’s history. Mr. President should be made clear that this is unacceptable and that he must be made to acknowledge it.

Politicians from all ideological divides should speak out and rise to stop the descent of totalitarianism in our country. Now is the time to speak up, state governors and legislators. I call on the National Assembly to reject this illegitimacy.

As a former governor of the state and former head of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), I am aware of the crucial role that the country’s elected governors can play in halting this decline and reversing Mr. President’s illegal actions. Governors who have opposed the unlawful suspension merit praise.

Nigeria’s first modular LPG extraction plant and 20 megawatt gas-to-power project have been put on the federal government’s hands.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. In Rivers State, Ekperikpe Ekpo is grown in the Otakikpo field.

The minister claimed that Green Energy and Lekoil Joint Venture (JV) were involved in the projects, which marked a significant milestone for the nation’s gas sector, in a post on his official X account.

The newly launched projects are anticipated to increase Nigeria’s domestic gas use, increase energy access, and boost regional economic growth.

The JV management led the minister through a tour of crucial facilities, including the first land terminal in Nigeria, the first to be constructed by an independent company, including the power plant, LPG extraction plant, and EPPF.

Ekpo praised the JV’s effective implementation of the projects and the importance of community collaboration. He also acknowledged the peaceful coexistence between the operating companies, traditional rulers, and host communities, which allowed the projects to be finished in time.

READ MORE: FG Re-Opens For March 2025 With $300bn in Bond Re-Offers.

Ekpo added that these projects will support a robust gas economy, provide electricity to the communities, create jobs for youths, and provide other benefits in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the nation.

Ambassador Nicholas Agbo Ella, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, was one of the key government officials present for the commissioning ceremony. The JV’s leadership, which included Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe, the company’s chairman, and Mr. Olalekan Akinyanmi, Lekoil’s CEO, welcomed them.

A motion to extend the state of emergency in Rivers State until the following legislative date was rejected by the Senate on Wednesday.

Prior to this point, The Red Chamber had previously moved to reverse the motion’s prior order until 3 p.m., without giving a lot of justification for the delay.

During the morning session, the motion, which was led by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, was scheduled to be deliberated and approved. However, discussions were unanticipatedly delayed by lawmakers.

The state is at risk as a result of the escalating tensions, which have paralyzed the state and prevented its citizens from receiving democratic dividends, according to the motion.

READ ALSO: Reps’ Plenary Without Mention of Rivers Emergency Rule Declaration

“Worried that the crises are clearly and present a threat because some militants have reported disturbing incidents of oil pipeline vandalism, including some reports of fire and brimstone.”

“Convinced that adequate, extraordinary measures must be taken to restore Rivers State’s good governance, peace, and security.”

The Senate needs a two-thirds of the 109 senators to approve the emergency rule before it can become effective.

Following the state of emergency in the oil-rich South-South state on Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly were suspended for six months by Tinubu during a nationwide broadcast.

Without making any mention of the Rivers State state of emergency, the House of Representatives ended its session on Wednesday.

Following the arduous political crisis in the oil-rich South-South state, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers.

Two female lawmakers and one of their female lawmakers argued incendiously at the House of Representatives on Wednesday about the state of emergency in Rivers State.

Just before the plenary, Marie Ebikake and Blessing Amadi from Rivers State engaged in a shouting match.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, presided over the plenary after the argument.

Read more about Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in rivers and its suspension of Fubara.

Following the arduous political upheaval in the oil-rich South-South state, President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the House of Assembly were suspended for six months by Tinubu during a nationwide broadcast.

Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) was chosen as the president’s administrator for the first six months.