AGF Defends Rivers Emergency Rule, Says Tinubu Acted Promptly

The federal government has defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing the move as necessary to prevent a total breakdown of governance.

Speaking to journalists at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said the President had taken the step only after exhausting all diplomatic efforts.

“I think the President has acted timeously. He has given opportunity to all the parties involved to make amends. Before then, he had assembled them, he had tried to mediate,” Fagbemi said.

LEADERSHIP recalls that President Tinubu announced the emergency measure in a national broadcast on Tuesday, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

Citing prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security concerns, the President invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to justify the move.

The crisis in Rivers State, fueled by a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, now the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike had led to a paralysis of governance in the oil-rich state.

In a bid to restore order, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the state’s sole administrator.

“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State,” Tinubu announced.

The decision has sparked controversy, with critics questioning its necessity and accusing the government of favouritism in the dispute.

However, Fagbemi rejected claims that the move was designed to benefit Wike, saying: “Was Wike the one that asked the State Assembly to be demolished? I don’t see the hand of the Minister of the FCT in what happened.”

He also urged those opposed to the decision to channel it through the National Assembly.

“If the National Assembly feels what the President did was not okay, he will not have two-thirds from the National Assembly. We are expecting that within 48 hours something will come out,” he said.