Abuja, Nigeria – September 17, 2025
President Bola Tinubu has lifted the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, reinstating Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly.
In a nationwide broadcast on Wednesday, Tinubu cautioned political leaders to avoid actions that undermine democracy, warning that “the dividends of governance cannot thrive in an atmosphere of violence and anarchy.”
The emergency rule was declared in March following a fierce standoff between Governor Fubara and lawmakers loyal to former Rivers governor and current FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Tinubu’s intervention, which suspended elected officials and installed a sole administrator, drew both criticism and praise.
Tensions have since eased after closed-door meetings between Tinubu, Fubara, and Wike. The president said political harmony between the executive and legislature is essential for peace and development, urging stakeholders nationwide to “put aside divisive tactics” and work together.
The end of emergency rule marks a new chapter for Rivers, a state critical to Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta, where political instability has long been a source of national concern.
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