- Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his family were held hostage at Government House in Port Harcourt after the state of emergency was declared
- Soldiers blocked all exits and prevented the governor and his family from leaving the premises
- Legal experts and critics questioned the legality of the president’s actions, while the Nigerian Army remained silent on the treatment of Fubara and his family
Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his family members are reportedly being held hostage at the Government House in Port Harcourt by a contingent of heavily armed soldiers, sources have revealed.
The incident took place on Tuesday night, March 18, shortly after President Bola Tinubu invoked Section 180 of the Nigerian Constitution to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The state of emergency follows a rapidly escalating political feud between Governor Fubara and lawmakers loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, who recently initiated impeachment proceedings against Fubara.
This dispute led to the intervention of President Bola Tinubu but it appeared that even the president’s words weren’t enough to stop the crisis in Rivers State which stems from the fallout between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is currently the Minister of the FCT.
According to Peoples Gazette, soldiers acting on the president's orders following his emergency proclamation swiftly barricaded all entrances and exits to the Government House on Tuesday evening.
Attempts by Governor Fubara and his family to remove their belongings were reportedly blocked by the soldiers, who also suppressed any movement around the premises.
“We are being held hostage, They said they don’t have instructions to let anyone leave the premises,” an official said anonymously.
The declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of political office holders in Rivers State have sparked intense debate across social media.
Critics, including legal experts and commentators, have questioned the legality of President Tinubu’s move, especially given that the governor has not yet been formally impeached by the state legislature.
Lawyers such as Inibehe Effiong and Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana have criticised the president for what they describe as an overreach of executive power, arguing that the move undermines the constitution and sets a dangerous precedent for executive interference in state politics.
The president's controversial declaration includes a six-month suspension of all feuding parties in the state, effective immediately. In addition, the president appointed the retired Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the interim military administrator of Rivers State.
The Nigerian Army and Defence Headquarters are yet to give any public statement regarding this development.
NLC threatens to withdraw services over court ruling on Rivers State allocation
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) planned to withdraw members if the court ruling on allocations harms welfare.
Chairman Alex Agwanwo, emphasised the judgment's lack of empathy and potential for widespread suffering.
