The Federal Government has announced that the allocation for Rivers State will be released to the newly appointed Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd.).
The government also expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state, calling it a timely decision aimed at preventing a larger crisis.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, clarified that former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had no involvement in the political crisis that led to the state of emergency declaration. Fagbemi made the remarks during a briefing with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
When asked whether the Federal Government would release funds from the federation account to Rivers State under the current circumstances, Fagbemi stated that the allocation would be provided to the administrator if requested. He added that this would be in order, given the extraordinary nature of the situation.
Fagbemi defended President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency, noting that the state had already been experiencing instability for nearly two years. “At what point should the president have intervened? Should it have been when everything was destroyed? The President acted in a timely manner after attempting mediation and giving all parties the opportunity to make amends,” Fagbemi explained.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for an initial six-month period.
The President cited ongoing political instability, constitutional violations, and security threats as the primary reasons for this drastic measure.
The crisis in the state has stemmed from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
