Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his family are reportedly being held hostage at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt by heavily armed soldiers following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday night.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The deployment of soldiers came immediately after Tinubu invoked Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution to suspend Fubara, his deputy, and the State Assembly, citing the escalating political feud between the governor and lawmakers loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sources within the Rivers State government told Peoples Gazette that soldiers enforcing the emergency rule swiftly barricaded all exits of the Government House. Attempts by Fubara and his family to vacate the premises were reportedly denied.
“We are being held hostage,” an official inside the compound told The Gazette on Tuesday night. “The soldiers said they have no instructions to allow anyone to leave.”
It remains unclear whether the soldiers were strictly following presidential directives or acting beyond their orders.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the Rivers governor and appoint retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as the interim administrator has sparked widespread debate. Legal experts, including Inibehe Effiong and Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana, have criticized the move, arguing that Tinubu lacks the constitutional authority to remove an elected governor who has not been impeached by the legislature.
The political turmoil in Rivers has been brewing for weeks, with lawmakers aligned with Wike initiating impeachment proceedings against Fubara over their ongoing power struggle. The emergency rule declaration, coming just 24 hours after impeachment moves began, has raised concerns over democratic governance in the country.
The Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters have yet to issue an official statement regarding the military’s actions at the Government House.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
