…Tinubu Acted Timely to Prevent Rivers State Collapse – AGF
— Clears Wike of Any Wrongdoing
The Federal Government has confirmed that Rivers State’s allocation will be disbursed to Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd.), the newly appointed Administrator, following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, defended the President’s decision, stating that the move was necessary to prevent a total breakdown of governance.
Fagbemi clarified that former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had no role in the political crisis that led to the emergency declaration.
When asked whether the state’s federal allocation would be released, Fagbemi affirmed that if the administrator requests it, the funds would be made available.
“It is in order to release the funds because the extraordinary situation has placed the state outside normal governance structures,” he stated.
Defending Tinubu’s intervention, the AGF said:
“The administration in the state is barely two years old. Should the President have waited until everything collapsed? No. He acted at the right time. He had already made efforts to mediate before this decision.”
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In a national address, Tinubu cited political instability, constitutional violations, and security threats as reasons for the drastic measure.
The crisis, which had crippled governance in the oil-rich state, stemmed from a prolonged power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.
As part of his directives, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until stability is restored. Ibas, who served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021, will now manage Rivers State’s governance.
Tinubu stated:
“Having evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, and with the Governor and Deputy Governor failing to request a proclamation as required by the Constitution, I am compelled to invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to declare a state of emergency with immediate effect.”
“By this declaration, the Governor, Deputy Governor, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly are suspended for an initial period of six months.”
However, Tinubu emphasized that the judiciary remains unaffected, assuring that the state’s courts will continue to function as mandated by the Constitution.
