Emergency rule in Rivers was last resort, says sole administrator

Rivers State sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has said that the emergency rule imposed on the state was not a voluntary decision, but a necessary response to escalating insecurity and political deadlock.

Speaking at a public lecture in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, themed “Democracy and Good Governance”, Ibas said the federal intervention was prompted by a breakdown of trust and governance structures in the state.

“Let me be clear: emergency rule was never our choice,” he stated. “It was a necessity, forced upon us by insecurity, political impasse, and a breakdown of trust.”

The emergency rule, declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire state assembly for six months. Ibas, a retired naval chief, was appointed to oversee the state during this period.

Reflecting on the past months, Ibas said the intervention brought stability and valuable lessons. “Peace is priceless,” he noted. “Without security, no other aspiration is possible. When governance is weakened, opportunism fills the vacuum.”

He highlighted the restoration of democratic processes at the grassroots level, citing the conduct of local government elections as a major achievement of his administration.

Ibas praised the resilience of the people of Rivers State, saying their endurance during the emergency period laid the foundation for a return to democratic governance.

The six-month emergency rule is set to expire on Thursday, September 18, with expectations high for a smooth political transition and restoration of full civilian leadership in the state.