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President Bola Tinubu has suspended the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and the members of the State House of Assembly for six months.
In a nationwide emergency broadcast on Tuesday, Tinubu expressed deep concern over the situation.
He said: “I feel greatly disturbed bythe political crisis in Rivers. The state has been at a standstill, and the people have been deprived of good governance.
“Fourteen months after Governor Fubara demolished the House of Assembly, it remains unbuilt. Many Nigerians have intervened, just as I did. But their efforts have been to no avail.
“No responsible President will stand without taking action. To restore good governance and peace in this circumstance, it has become imperative to declare a state of emergency.
“Bythis declaration, Governor Fubara is heresuspended.
“In the meantime, I herenominate Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.”
The declaration comes just hours after another explosion was reported at an oil facility in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area.
Earlier, on the same day, the Trans-Niger Pipeline, operated Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), went up in flames, further escalating tensions in the state.