AGF Defends President Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers, Says Action Was Timely

The federal government has strongly defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a crucial step to avert a complete collapse of governance in the region.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, addressed the media in Abuja on Wednesday, asserting that the President’s actions were timely and taken only after all diplomatic avenues had been exhausted.

“The President has acted promptly. He gave all parties involved ample opportunity to make amends. Prior to this, he had brought them together and tried to mediate,” Fagbemi explained.

As previously reported, President Tinubu announced the state of emergency on Tuesday night in a national broadcast, which resulted in the suspension of Governor 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 invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, citing prolonged political instability, constitutional violations, and growing security concerns in the state.

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

To restore order, President Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, former Chief of Naval Staff, as the state’s Sole Administrator.

In his address, Tinubu stated, “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.”

The President’s decision has sparked debate, with critics questioning the need for such an extreme measure and accusing the government of favoritism towards Wike.

However, Fagbemi dismissed these accusations, stating, “Was Wike the one who ordered the demolition of the State Assembly? I don’t see the hand of the Minister of the FCT in what happened.”

He further suggested that those opposed to the President’s decision should address their concerns through the National Assembly.

“If the National Assembly believes the President’s action was improper, it would not receive the necessary two-thirds support,” Fagbemi said. “We expect something to emerge from them within 48 hours.”