End of Emergency Rule a “Breath of Fresh Air” in Rivers

A former Commissioner for Information in Rivers State, Ibim Semenitari, has expressed immense delight at the suspension of the state of emergency in Rivers, describing the development as a “breath of fresh air.” Featuring on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Wednesday, Semenitari, a notable political figure in the state, stated that it “feels good to have my state back.” Her sentiment is a reflection of the widespread relief across Rivers State after a six-month period during which the state was governed under an emergency rule imposed by President Bola Tinubu. The end of the emergency rule marks a pivotal moment in the state’s political trajectory, bringing to an end a period of constitutional uncertainty that stemmed from a protracted and often violent political crisis.

The state of emergency, which was declared by President Tinubu on March 18, was a direct response to a political feud that had completely paralyzed the state’s government. The crisis began as a bitter power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The dispute saw the defection of 27 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the subsequent demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex. The situation reached a critical point when a major pipeline blast in the Trans-Niger Pipeline was blamed on the breakdown of law and order in the state. In his public statement, President Tinubu had accused Governor Fubara of failing to address the collapse of the legislative arm, leading to a constitutional crisis that necessitated federal intervention. The President, therefore, exercised his constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency, which suspended the Governor, Deputy Governor, and all elected lawmakers for a period of six months. In their place, a Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), was appointed to oversee the affairs of the state.

For Ibim Semenitari, the lifting of the emergency rule is a return to normalcy and democratic principles. As a former acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and a prominent member of the Muhammadu Buhari Presidential Campaign Organisation, her political background gives her comments added weight. She believes that the people of Rivers are happy and glad that “things are hopefully getting back to normal” after what she described as a difficult six months. The lifting of the rule effectively reinstates Governor Fubara to his full constitutional powers, a development that is being seen as a major political triumph for his camp. The return of the state to a democratically elected administration is a welcome development for many, who felt that the emergency rule was a violation of the people’s right to choose their leaders. It also puts an end to the extraordinary powers of the Sole Administrator, bringing all political power back to the governor and the elected lawmakers.

While the end of the emergency rule is widely seen as a positive step, it does not necessarily signal the complete resolution of the state’s political crisis. The PDP, which is the party of the Governor, has warned against any attempt by him to defect to the APC, a move that some believe could happen now that the federal government, also led by the APC, has given him his powers back. Furthermore, some political observers have called for a proper investigation into how the state was run during the six months under the Sole Administrator. These concerns highlight the underlying tensions that still exist in the state, even with the end of the emergency rule. However, for now, the prevailing sentiment is one of relief. The people of Rivers have their democratically elected government back, and the hope is that this new chapter will bring with it political stability and a renewed focus on governance and development.