By Prosper Mene
Criticizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent decision to lift the six-month state of emergency in Rivers State, prominent activist Ann Eaton Briggs has accused the federal government of failing to deliver any tangible benefits to the people of the oil-rich Niger Delta state.
The suspension of emergency rule, effective from midnight on September 17, 2025, restores democratic governance and reinstates Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to their positions as of today, September 18.
Briggs, a vocal civil society figure known for her advocacy on environmental and governance issues in the Niger Delta, described the emergency period as a “missed opportunity” that prioritized political maneuvering over the welfare of Rivers residents.
“Tinubu has not favored Rivers people,” she stated emphatically in an interview with Vanguard Newspapers, arguing that the federal intervention exacerbated existing tensions without addressing core challenges like infrastructure decay, youth unemployment, and environmental degradation caused by oil exploration.
The emergency rule was imposed on March 18, 2025, amid a severe political crisis that paralyzed state governance. A bitter feud between Governor Fubara and a faction of the State House of Assembly, split between a pro-governor group of four lawmakers and a pro-Speaker bloc of 27 prevented the passage of key legislation, including the state’s appropriation bill.
This impasse, coupled with reports of vandalism targeting critical oil infrastructure, prompted President Tinubu to invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, suspending elected officials and appointing a sole administrator, retired Naval Chief Ibok Ete-Ibas, to oversee affairs.
In his announcement on September 17, Tinubu defended the measure as a necessary step to avert “anarchy and insecurity,” citing a Supreme Court judgment that had declared Rivers State effectively without a functioning government. He praised the National Assembly for swiftly approving the declaration and commended traditional rulers and residents for their cooperation during the period, which saw over 40 legal challenges filed in courts across Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa. “It would have been a colossal failure on my part as President not to have made that proclamation,” Tinubu said, adding that intelligence reports now indicated a “groundswell of new understanding” among stakeholders, signaling readiness for democratic resumption.
However, Briggs dismissed these claims, asserting that the emergency rule served more as a tool for federal control than genuine stabilization. “During these six months, we saw no significant investments in our roads, hospitals, or schools.
The oil pipelines were supposedly protected, but our communities continue to suffer from spills and pollution without federal remediation efforts,” she told reporters. She further criticized the lack of inclusive dialogue, noting that civil society groups and local women, who protested the initial suspension, were largely sidelined. “This was not about favoring Rivers people; it was about consolidating power. The restoration today is welcome, but it comes too late for the trust that has been eroded.”Public reactions have been mixed.
