The member of the House of Representatives representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in Rivers State, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, has urged President Bola Tinubu to reinstate Governor Siminalayi Fubara before the conclusion of the six-month emergency rule imposed on the state. Abiante also called for the intervention of the National Peace Committee, led by former Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, to mediate the ongoing political crisis in the oil-rich state and facilitate a peaceful resolution.
Abiante made the remarks during an appearance on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program aired on Channels Television.
President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, citing escalating political instability. He suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state’s legislative assembly members for six months. In their place, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas as the sole administrator for the duration of the emergency rule. The decision was backed by a controversial voice vote in the National Assembly.
Tinubu’s move, based on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, was seen as necessary to prevent further escalation of the political situation in Rivers. However, the suspension of elected representatives, including Governor Fubara, has sparked widespread condemnation from various prominent figures and groups, including former presidential candidates Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, legal experts such as Femi Falana, as well as political organizations like the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Abiante questioned the accuracy of some claims made by the president, particularly those concerning the actions of Governor Fubara. He refuted the assertion that Fubara had failed to rebuild the demolished chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, pointing out that Fubara had initiated the construction, which was being inspected by the new sole administrator.
Addressing the claim about broken pipelines and explosions, Abiante stated, “That is not correct. The pipeline is back to work,” disputing the allegations used to justify the emergency declaration. He also raised concerns over the integrity of the intelligence that informed the president’s decision, suggesting that it may have been manipulated.
Abiante emphasized the need for the National Peace Committee, headed by Abdulsalami Abubakar, to intervene in the crisis. He praised the committee’s distinguished members, which include Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad III, urging the president to seek their assistance in resolving the dispute. He stressed that allowing the situation to persist for six months could escalate tensions and divide Nigerians, particularly in Rivers State, which contributes significantly to the country’s economy.
He said, “It would be wrong to allow this thing to fester; it would even be very wrong to allow it to get to that six months because you will begin to play Nigerians against fellow Nigerians. On the streets of Port Harcourt, what is being discussed is that it is the fight to grab the resources of Rivers State.”
Abiante further reminded the president that Rivers State had been crucial in securing votes for him during the election, urging that the interests of the people should not be overlooked. He pointed out that “one man cannot deliver the votes in a state,” and warned against disregarding the democratic will of the people.
In a related discussion, policy advisor Baba Yusuf criticized opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly for their failure to oppose the emergency rule in Rivers State. Yusuf, who previously served as the chief executive of the Airport Free Trade Zone, emphasized that the suspension of the state’s elected leaders had undermined the rights of the people to choose their representatives.
Yusuf placed much of the responsibility for the situation on the shoulders of the National Assembly, particularly the opposition caucus, which he claimed had “lost their voice” in the decision-making process. He noted the importance of the legislature in a functioning democracy and decried the lack of opposition to the president’s move.
Similarly, social commentator Dayo Akintobi expressed agreement with Yusuf’s assessment, highlighting the absence of opposition voices in the National Assembly during the emergency declaration. He argued that the constitution’s framers did not intend for the president to have the power to suspend elected officials, viewing the move as a case of presidential overreach.
Akintobi concluded that the decision to impose a state of emergency and suspend the governor was an unwarranted step that undermined the democratic process.