President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State following the political crisis rocking the state, has been met with reactions.
On Tuesday, the president, during a nationwide broadcast, suspended the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
The president’s nomination of retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the Rivers State administrator has also been met with reactions.
Ibas, who is a former chief of naval staff, will be responsible for overseeing the affairs of the state for six months.
The new Rivers administrator served as chief of naval staff from 2015 to 2021 and also served as Nigeria’s ambassador to Ghana.
Photos emerged shortly after the president’s nationwide broadcast showing what appears to be a close relationship between the new Rivers administrator and the Minister of the federal capital territory, Nyesome Wike who is at the center of the crisis rocking Rivers state.
A 2013 video of former President Goodluck Jonathan when he declared a state of emergency in three north-eastern states, Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe over worsening insecurity has resurfaced online.
According to former attorney-general of the federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Jonathan did not suspend the governors of the states because it was unconstitutional.
He dedicated a whole chapter to the issue in his memoir, Burden of Service.
A video of Governor Sim Fubara threatening violence against members of the Rivers State House of Assembly if they proceed with his impeachment has surfaced on social media.
The governor made the remarks weeks ago during the inauguration of the state quarters in Port Harcourt.
On Monday, an explosion rocked a section of the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community, in Goka-na Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Trans Niger Pipeline is a key federal transport line supplying crude oil to the Bonny Export Terminal in the State -and plays a crucial role in crude oil export, with a capacity of 1.25 million barrels per day.
A video surfaced on Tuesday morning showing thick black smoke billowing into the sky as flames rapidly spread into the mangrove.
Meanwhile, multiple military vans filled with armed operatives were seen heading towards the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt just moments after President Tinubu declared a state of emergency has surfaced on social media.
Members of the House of Representatives have donated N705 million from their salaries to support President Bola Tinubu’s humanitarian efforts.
The donation is said to represent a six-month, 50% salary deduction by the lawmakers. The contribution was announced on Monday night, when President Tinubu hosted House leadership and members for Iftar at the New Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has described the Nigerian Senate as a cult where lawmakers fear retaliation for expressing dissenting views.
In an interview with BBC, Akpoti-Uduaghan one of only four women in the 109-member Senate also accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment.
She was suspended on March 6th for gross misconduct following an altercation with Akpabio over her seating arrangement.
Meanwhile, Fired CNN anchor Don Lemon has alleged that female colleagues sexually harassed him, including one who groped him by touching his nipples.
Lemon, who was fired in 2023 after 17 years at CNN, made the claim during a podcast on Monday.
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