BY OGORAMAKA AMOS
How It All Began: Six-Month Interregnum
ON March 18, 2025, a seismic shockwave shook the political landscape of the Niger Delta. President Bola Tinubu, invoking the weighty provisions of Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended), declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The move, one of the most dramatic federal interventions in recent history, effectively suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, and the entire 27-member Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
In their stead, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retired), a naval officer, was appointed as Sole Administrator, tasked with steering the ship of state through what was declared a period of unprecedented crisis.
The official justification was a potent cocktail of constitutional claims and grave allegations. The President pointed to rampant insecurity, specifically a surge in militant pipeline vandalism that had seen critical national assets like the Trans-Niger Pipeline repeatedly ablaze, crippling oil production—the lifeblood of the national economy.
The accusation was stark: these acts were occurring “without the governor taking any action to prevent them.” Given Rivers State’s strategic importance as an oil and gas hub, the federal government framed the intervention as a necessary, if not painful, surgical procedure to save the patient from itself.
However, beneath this surface of national security lay the roiling currents of a bitter and very personal political feud. For months, the state had been paralysed by an escalating power struggle between Governor Fubara and his political godfather-turned-archenemy, Nyesom Wike, the influential Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The conflict manifested most visibly in a deeply fractured State House of Assembly, where proceedings descended into chaos, with attempts to impeach the governor, defections, and counter-defections, and allegations of severe violations of constitutional and procedural norms. The state was, for all intents and purposes, ungovernable.
Critics and civil society organisations were swift and sharp in their condemnation. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) clarified that a declaration of a state of emergency does not automatically necessitate the suspension of a state government.
Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including the formidable Femi Falana, and numerous human rights activists argued that the constitutional threshold—a genuine “existential threat” or a complete breakdown of public order—had not been met.
They warned of a dangerous precedent, a slide towards authoritarian overreach under the guise of emergency powers, and expressed fears that the move was less about pipeline fires and more about settling political scores on a national stage.
For six months, Rivers State existed in a political limbo. The vibrant, often chaotic, engine of democracy was replaced by the quiet, centralised authority of the Sole Administrator. While the judiciary continued to function, the absence of elected representatives created a palpable vacuum, a silence where the voices of the people were meant to be heard.
Democracy Returns: Cautious Homecoming, Soaring Expectations
On September 18, 2025, exactly six months to the day, the state of emergency was lifted. The political suspended animation ended. Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Odu, and the lawmakers returned to their offices, not to a simple resumption of duties, but to a state transformed by crisis and burdened by the weight of immense expectation.
The return has been met with a collective sigh of relief mixed with a heavy dose of caution. The people of Rivers State, resilient yet weary from years of political theatrics, are watching closely. The bustling city of Port Harcourt and the state’s diverse communities are now vocalising their expectations, their hopes, and their very concrete demands for the government they voted for.
A Cross-Section of Voices: People’s Agenda
A Port Harcourt-based journalist and editor, Olalekan Ige, stressed the critical need for institutional preparedness. “One of the most urgent tasks before these returning lawmakers is the creation of a functional, well-funded State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
‘’We are a coastal state prone to annual flooding. Every year, we see the same heartbreaking spectacle: citizens abandoned, their homes and farms submerged, left to fend for themselves. A proactive SEMA is not a luxury; it is a necessity for survival. It would not only coordinate disaster response but also focus on mitigation and early warning systems.”
He also urged a pragmatic approach to legislation disrupted by the crisis. “The Supreme Court annulled several laws passed during the peak of the political impasse. The lawmakers must have the courage to revisit those that hold genuine benefit for our people, strip them of any partisan poison, and re-enact them. Governance should be about the people, not political victories. Laws that can improve lives should not be left to gather dust because of past tussles.”
Public Affairs Analyst, Ijeoma Obi, advised a focus on stability and reconciliation. “The first step is continuity. The Governor should be allowed to reconstitute his State Executive Council with the individuals he trusts, even if that means reappointing some of the previous commissioners. This is crucial for hitting the ground running.
‘’My greater plea, however, is to the Governor and the lawmakers: the time for politics is over; the time for governance is now. They must find a way to sheath their daggers and work together. The development of Rivers State is a collective responsibility that transcends individual ambitions.”
Another analyst, Obi Friday, expressed a more sceptical view, highlighting the enduring political fissures. “While we all hope for peace, I doubt the sincerity of this détente. The fundamental issues that caused the rift in control of party structure and resources have not vanished.
‘’Can these lawmakers, whose allegiances were so fiercely divided, truly be loyal to Governor Fubara now? Or is this just an intermission before the next act of the political drama? The proof will be in their actions: the bills they pass, the oversight functions they perform, and whether they work for the state or for a political godfather.” From the perspective of a civil servant, Judge Sokari focused on tangible deliverables. “It is a great thing that the Governor has returned. My advice is simple: please complete the road projects and other sectors of development which were left on hold.
‘’Abandoned projects are a symbol of failure and wasted resources. He should finish those projects, open new doors for investment, and create an environment where the state can truly bounce back. We need to see cranes and bulldozers, not protests and press conferences.”
This sentiment was echoed emphatically by Bright Kingsley, a civil engineer. “The state of our infrastructure is a disgrace. Most road projects awarded were all on hold for these six months, and many were stalled even before that.
‘’I urge the Governor to prioritise the completion of critical roads, especially in the Ahoada East and West regions, which feel completely cut off. Contractors need to be mobilised back to sites immediately with adequate funding. Furthermore, he must give equal attention to the collapsing healthcare sector. Rivers people deserve equitable development across all local governments, not just flashy projects in the capital.”
Another civil servant, Benjamin Oriji, pointed to a critical quality-of-life issue. “The Governor must look into the waste disposal crisis immediately. He should ensure waste management contractors return to work. This area was poorly handled even before the emergency, and now refuse has completely taken over many streets in Port Harcourt and other towns. It’s a health hazard and an eyesore. A clean state is the most basic foundation for progress.”
A public affairs analyst, Nneka Frederick, appealed to the conscience of the political class. “I call upon the lawmakers to please rise to the occasion and create laws that would genuinely benefit and protect the people of the state—laws on environmental protection, education, and healthcare.
‘’This time around, they must put the affairs of the state first and leave their differences aside. They must avoid a repeat of the past at all costs. Look at how their previous actions affected everything: investment fled, projects stalled, and our state became a national headline for all the wrong reasons. The earlier they realise that the welfare of over seven million people is more important than any political alliance, the better for everyone.”
Additional Responses: Widening the Spectrum of Expectation
A consultant at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Dr Tamunoala Green, highlighted a sector pushed to the brink. “The healthcare sector was silently suffering during the political impasse and the emergency period. Budgetary approvals, training programs, and procurement of essential drugs were all frozen.
‘’My urgent plea to the government is to declare a state of emergency in the health sector itself. We need massive investment in primary healthcare centres across rural communities, better equipment in our general hospitals, and a renewed focus on attracting and retaining medical personnel. The health of our people is the true wealth of the state.”
A small business owner and caterer in Rumuokoro, Ms Boma Briggs, spoke for the entrepreneurial class. “All this politics is bad for business. Uncertainty means people don’t spend, contracts don’t get awarded, and those of us trying to make an honest living suffer.
‘’With the Governor’s return, I expect a focus on economic revitalisation. We need policies that support SMEs: access to low-interest loans, reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks for business registration, and improved security so customers can come out at night. The government must create an environment where businesses can thrive. That is how you create jobs and grow the economy from the ground up.”
A community leader and security expert from Kalabari, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, brought the conversation back to the root cause of the federal intervention. “The President cited pipeline vandalism. Well, the solution is not just about deploying more soldiers. It is about addressing the root causes: poverty, neglect, and a feeling of alienation among the youth in the oil-producing communities.
‘’Governor Fubara must launch a decisive and holistic peacebuilding process. This involves engaging ex-militant leaders, creating meaningful employment opportunities for the youth through partnerships with international oil companies, and ensuring that host communities finally see the benefits of the resources taken from their land. Security will only be sustainable through development and justice.” A political scientist at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Prof Nnenna Oti, offered a sobering academic perspective. “The return of elected officials is a necessary but insufficient condition for restoration. The last six months have fundamentally altered the political calculus in Rivers State.
‘’The federal government has demonstrated its willingness to intervene decisively. This will hang over the Fubara administration like the sword of Damocles. The governor must now navigate a treacherous path: delivering on the promises of democracy to his people while avoiding any action that could be construed by Abuja as a relapse into chaos.
‘’He must be a politician, a statesman, and a diplomat all at once. The hope is that this experience has served as a sobering lesson to all actors on the perils of allowing political warfare to eclipse governance.”
The Road Ahead: A Test of Character and Governance
As Governor Siminalayi Fubara reoccupies the Government House in Port Harcourt, he does so not just as a governor returning to his office, but as a leader at a critical historical juncture. The six-month interruption has, paradoxically, given him a unique opportunity—a reset.
The expectations are sky-high, and the margin for error is vanishingly small. The people are no longer interested in the rhetoric of political victimisation or triumph; they demand results. They want completed roads, efficient waste management, functional hospitals, and flood prevention. They want an economy that works for the many, not just the political few. They want an end to the instability that has made Rivers State a byword for crisis.
The greatest test for Fubara and the reinstated House of Assembly is one of character. Will they learn from the costly mistakes of the past and choose collaboration over conflict? Will they prioritise the relentless development of Rivers State, proving the federal intervention to have been an unnecessary interlude? Or will the old grudges and power struggles resurface, leading the state back down a familiar path of dysfunction?
The hopes are high. The stakes are even higher. The people of Rivers State are watching, waiting and hoping that this new dawn will finally bring the lasting peace and prosperity they so much deserve.
