Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has assured that President Bola Tinubu will lift the state of emergency in Rivers State as soon as stability is restored.
In an interview with The Nation newspaper, Idris expressed Tinubu’s commitment to returning the state to democratic governance.
“As soon as the president is confident that order has been restored in Rivers State, he will ensure that all democratic structures are reinstated,” Idris said. He emphasized that “the president will not delay a moment longer than necessary” in this process.
Responding to speculations about hidden agendas behind the emergency declaration, Idris stressed that the decision was solely made to restore order. “The president has no intention of taking over the governance of Rivers State or appointing a governor,” he stated.
The minister explained that the breakdown of governance in Rivers required the president’s intervention, describing the action as “a responsible but painful” decision, made “in line with constitutional provisions.”
Idris further clarified, “Democracy in this country is designed so that the three branches of government must work together, with each checking the other. Without that balance, we cannot have a functional democracy. We didn’t have that, which is why the president had to act.”
The state of emergency, declared last week, resulted in the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all members of the state assembly. Retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas was appointed as the sole administrator of the state.