The president charged the governor of Rivers State with failing to manage vandals and militants within the area. This suspension represents the first instance of an emergency rule declaration since 2013.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced a state of emergency in Rivers State and removed Governor Siminabali Fubara following an incident. blast in a segment of the Trans-NigerPipeline .
Although the authorities have not provided an official explanation for the blast on Tuesday, they haven't dismissed the possibility of it being caused by vandals or saboteurs affiliated with extremist organizations.
The president mentioned that he was informed about "alarming instances of pipeline vandalism carried out by certain militants, with the governor failing to take any measures to stop these actions."
Oil spills are frequent in the region, where the high value of oil leads both militants and civilians to steal it for sale on the black market .
What were Tinubu's comments regarding the suspension?
Tinubu condemned the governor for failing to "take any measures to stop" acts of pipeline sabotage.
"A competent and accountable president won’t remain passive while allowing the serious circumstances to persist without implementing corrective measures outlined in the constitution to tackle the issues within the state,” Tinubu stated during a televised address.
The president stated that he would suspend the governor along with other elected officials, such as the state legislators, for a period of six months.
A conflict between Fubara and his predecessor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has brought the state to a standstill, resulting in impeachment attempts and Fubara’s move to disband the legislative body.
"Given that the crisis continues, there’s no possibility for democratic governance to flourish. Since the onset of the crisis, the state has remained stagnant," Tinubu stated.
The ex-navy chief of Nigeria, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, has been appointed to oversee the administration of Rivers State for an initial period of six months.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse
Author: Nicholas Counter (Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Reuters)
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