The six-month state of emergency that was imposed in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, would have ended on Thursday, September 18, 2025, raising anticipation among the populace. When Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, former Rivers State Governor, and a key contributor to the state’s crisis, declared a few weeks ago that the state of emergency would end and suspended Governor Simi Fubara would be reinstated, there was even more hope that this would be the case.
It was unclear if Wike was speaking for the national assembly or the presidency of Nigeria, the two main institutions with a say in the issue under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, or if he was just acting on his own behalf, who frequently assumes authority that is not his own. The people’s expectations were raised last week when Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the single administrator who had been chosen, announced his departure from what he calls “our government” through a series of farewell events.
According to Section 305(6)(c) of the Constitution, the state of emergency will terminate on Thursday, unless there are any unusual events during the next two days. It seems inconceivable that the caveat in that section—a potential extension by the National Assembly—would ever be considered. In any event, until September 23, the National Assembly will be in recess.
Vice Admiral Ibas gave himself permission to brag that he has completed the task assigned to him by President Tinubu on March 18: stabilizing Rivers State, re-establishing its institutions, and restoring Rivers State to full democratic governance. This is as he gets ready to leave and the legitimate, elected Governor of Rivers State returns. “The successful conduct of the polls and the swearing in of elected chairmen and councillors across the 23 LGAs” were cited by him as proof. In fact, August 30 was the day of the state’s local government elections. The majority of the electorate and political parties boycotted it. The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) handled it shoddily. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won three seats out of the 23 LGAs, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) won twenty.
Isn’t it amusing and concerning that a retired military leader is now discussing democratic transition within a democracy in an effort to restore democracy? He claims to have carried out President Tinubu’s directive. The mandate is the people’s, not the president of Nigeria’s, under a democratic system. In the case of Rivers State, the president’s authority to proclaim a state of emergency in any area of the Federation has been largely rejected as completely unreasonable, making it unlawful and unconstitutional. The examples of Plateau State (2004) and Ekiti State (2006), where President Olusegun Obasanjo named General Chris Alli and General Tunji Olurin as sole administrators, respectively, are cited by those who are eager to point to precedents as support. These precedents were incorrect in that Section 305 gives neither the National Assembly nor the President of Nigeria the authority to unilaterally suspend a state’s democratic institutions.
Furthermore, Rivers State was exempt from the severe conditions that lead to a collapse of law and order, a threat of war, or a part of the federation devolving into conflict. As required by the constitution, no governor of the state house of assembly was removed when the Jonathan administration imposed a state of emergency in certain local governments in Borno and Plateau states in 2011 and in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states in 2013–2014.
The tension in Rivers State was caused by Nyesom Wike, the previous governor, refusing to give Simi Fubara, his successor, the authority to lead the state. He publicly boasted that he appointed Fubara governor and that, as his godfather, he had the right to rule over both the state and Fubara. Fubara was a figurehead at best. With the possible exception of one, his commissioners were chosen on his behalf. All of the local government chairmen and members of the House of Assembly were Wike’s sons. Though he had one leg in the PDP and another in the APC, Wike reaffirmed his commitment to the APC and President Tinubu without leaving the PDP, despite the fact that the state governor was elected on the PDP’s platform. The politics of Rivers State were rendered more challenging by this amphibian posture. Instead of confronting Wike, the president reportedly sided with him and assisted in degrading the people’s elected officials. Fubara’s attempt to impose himself resulted in punishment. The people of Rivers State are clearly the major losers now that President Tinubu and his hit man have accomplished their goal: the APC now controls 20 of the LGAs, and the assembly is also pro-Wike. Eleven PDP governors hurried to the Supreme Court to file a petition (SC/CV/329/2025) contesting the validity of the state of emergency in Rivers, just two days after it was proclaimed. After six months, there has been no update on the lawsuit or other cases involving Rivers State that are pending in the courts. The greatest blow has been given to democracy.
According to Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, he has brought peace back to Rivers State. He gives himself too much credit. In Rivers State, they currently experience fear and uncertainty about what might come next, in addition to the tranquility of the graveyard. On Sunday, September 14, the lone administrator hosted an interdenominational Thanksgiving ceremony. If that Thanksgiving demonstrated anything, it was how unpopular he was among Rivers State residents. Leading figures in the state boycotted the event. Government representatives, chairmen of local governments, service commanders, and a group of hangers-on were present. The chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers managed to show his face while the traditional rulers remained out of sight. Vice Admiral Ibas thanked God and cited scripture. God shouldn’t be blackmailed by him. Men’s avarice and lofty ambition were the root causes of the crisis in Rivers State. Additionally, the pastors who presided over that interdenominational service demonstrated how pastors contribute to Nigerian politics. The prophetic calling has been lost by many church leaders. The first group of people to visit and honor the lone administrator upon his arrival were the leaders of the Pentecostal Federation of Nigeria (PFN) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). When Governor Fubara arrives, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the same group of pastors will be present at Brick House. They will also be happy to officiate a Thanksgiving ceremony to greet him.
“Let us forgive, let us reconcile, let us heal,” Ibas said to the residents of Rivers State. Is he even acquainted with the individuals whose assets he oversaw for six months without taking responsibility? What was the number of LGAs he visited? What was the number of town hall gatherings he hosted outside the government building? Which projects did he finish? Did he promise to reconstruct the House of Assembly in Rivers State? Did he do it? Members of the House of Assembly will likely have to start searching for space when they meet again, and they will likely harbor recollections of strife and division. It seems that Ibas, the sole administrator, has been sitting on his hands for the past six months. He ought to exercise caution when completing his winning laps. Perhaps he should leave the state in secret, Nicodemously, so that the irate residents of Rivers won’t greet him with jeers and boos.
The public wants an investigation into his reign. The worries are expressed by former Rivers South East Senator Lee Maeba, who states, “What has happened in Rivers is not gone.” We shall take a stance against the Administrator’s ability to simply enter a state and begin spending public funds under the guise of an imaginary emergency and to demand all of the money that was brought to the state. We hear that the purpose of the State of Emergency is to restore law and order or security breaches. Since there was no insecurity in this instance, the man only came for political reasons. Without any legal or constitutional authority, he arrived and began utilizing state resources. The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), the Ijaw Youth Council, and the South-South Youths Initiative all share these views. The public wants to know how “their money” was used during the six months of emergency since there was no accountability mechanism in place. They have a right to demand.
Governor Simi Fubara’s return and his decision will determine what occurs next. He has maintained a low profile over the last six months, avoiding any affiliation that may expose him to further accusations of disobedience from his political bosses. He reportedly had multiple meetings with Minister Nyesom Wike and President Tinubu. He was seated next to the Minister during the Minister’s cousin Elder Temple Onuoha’s funeral in June. In order to promote harmony and peace, he also met with his followers and other interested parties. In addition to warning the women not to demonstrate on his behalf, he disbanded his support groups. He has primarily used greetings like “Happy Eid-ul-Mawld,” “Happy this, Happy that,” and “Welcome to the month of…” on his Twitter (X) handle, @SimFubaraKSC. He has made an effort to tell the lowest feasible untruth. Governor Fubara has learned some very important lessons about the game of power after being stripped of six months of his four-year term and humiliated.
When he gets back, his best bet is to stay out of trouble with his godfather and his local hitmen, who will be keeping a careful eye on him so they can get back to their routine of racing to Abuja to report everything he does. His political survival should be his first priority, and the completion of his remaining term should be the bare minimum in that regard. He ought to try to make amends and concentrate more on doing all he can for the people of Rivers State. He should avoid those commissioners and aides who encouraged him to take a position and battle, as well as those seniors and young people. Many of those leaders either disappeared or came to light on the other side when he was dismissed as governor. The pastors are superior to them. Fubara should only stay in the PDP for as long as feasible and profess his support and commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC if he hopes to breathe easier upon his return. Regretfully, Nigerian politics operate according to this manual and syntax. This democracy is stillborn for precisely that reason.
But don’t let self-proclaimed godfather Nyesom Wike think of himself as a conqueror. He hasn’t won anything. He needs to learn to be less intrusive. He shouldn’t make any demands that would harm Rivers State in the future. If his tale-bearers are not sure what to do with their time, he can help them obtain a job as land agents in the federal capital territory. Otherwise, he should counsel them to discover other activities! Fubara needs to be permitted to work. He needs to be kept safe. Any instance in which a minister acts like a co-president and bullies any state must be discouraged by President Tinubu. An illegal approach should never again be used to solve a malicious national issue.
