The Presidency has justified the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers, citing security intelligence that indicated an imminent threat to national stability.
According to the government, militants were already targeting vital oil pipelines, endangering the economy and public safety.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in an article titled “Imagine Rivers State Without a State of Emergency,” published on Sunday.
He emphasized that intelligence reports highlighted a deteriorating security situation in the oil-rich state.
In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, President Tinubu stated that his attempts to mediate the political tensions in Rivers were disregarded. He stressed that the growing security risks necessitated urgent action.
“The latest intelligence available to me shows that in the past 24 hours, militants have begun sabotaging oil pipelines, and the governor has taken no steps to address this. I have, therefore, directed security agencies to ensure the safety of Rivers residents and protect vital oil infrastructure,” Tinubu announced.
While the decision has faced criticism, the Presidency insists it was informed by credible intelligence.
Onanuga clarified that Section 305 of the Constitution empowers the President to intervene when public order, security, or the economy is at risk.
He suggested that impeachment threats against Fubara may have triggered attacks on lawmakers, while militants, allegedly awaiting the governor’s directive, were poised to disrupt oil production.
“Security reports confirm that militants, following Fubara’s instructions, were preparing to attack pipelines, potentially causing a drastic decline in oil output and destabilizing the Niger Delta,” Onanuga claimed.
He added that Tinubu’s intervention was necessary, given Rivers’ crucial role in Nigeria’s oil sector. Any disruptions, he warned, could have severe economic consequences.
Dismissing allegations that the emergency rule undermines democracy, Onanuga described it as a temporary measure designed to restore order rather than dismantle democratic structures.