Rivers: End of emergency rule stirs mixed reactions

By Omodele Adigun

The lifting of emergency rule in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu has triggered mixed reactions from stakeholders in the state.

Tinubu on Wednesday announced the end of emergency rule in Rivers, and reinstated Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and members of the state assembly after six months of suspension.

A Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs, described the announcement as expected but raised concerns over the uncertainties surrounding Fubara’s return to full constitutional duties.

She said that Rivers people were expecting Fubara to return as governor and perform his constitutional duties without being gagged.

“Until the governor is allowed to freely carry out constitutional responsibilities, we cannot say exactly what the lifting of suspension portends,” Briggs said.

The activist said that the six months period of emergency rule was characterised by project abandonment, poor performance and undemocratic practices.

Briggs further stated that the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers inflicted incalculable losses on the people.

She said that Rivers people would demand accountability for the period the state was governed under emergency rule.

Darlington Nwauju, a factional Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers, commended Tinubu for lifting the emergency rule, and reinstating Fubara.

Nwauju however, said that the state witnessed unprecedented poor governance and mismanagement of resources during the six months period.

“Rivers was poorly managed during the past six months. The sanitary condition alone reflected absence of governance. Workers experienced delayed salary payments,” he said.

He said that the emergency rule period had left Fubara with the huge tasks of restoring confidence, improving infrastructure, and re-establishing investor confidence.

“The state did not attract any foreign direct investment during the emergency rule period, but we must move on now that democracy is back in action,” he said.

Prof. Benjamin Okaba, the President, Ijaw National Congress, said that although the emergency rule had been lifted, the state was taken several years backwards.

He claimed that no fewer than 10,000 jobs were lost during the six months of emergency rule in the oil-rich state

According to him, suspending the governor, his deputy and the legislature handed absolute power to a sole administrator and undermined democratic principles.

Analysts say that although the lifting of emergency rule has ended uncertainties, questions remain concerning the political climate that awaits Fubara as he returns to office.

They suggest that sincere reconciliation between the governor and other political stakeholders will determine the pace of recovery. (NAN)