How Rivers has been taken backward by emergency rule

The lifting of the emergency rule in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu has triggered mixed reactions from stakeholders in the state.

Mr Tinubu on Wednesday announced the end of emergency rule in the oil-rich state, and reinstated Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy, Ngozi Odu and the state lawmakers after six months of suspension.

Ann-Kio Briggs, a Niger Delta activist, described the announcement as expected but raised concerns over the uncertainties surrounding Mr Fubara’s return to full constitutional duties.

She said that Rivers people were expecting Mr Fubara to return as governor and perform his constitutional duties without being gagged.

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“Until the governor is allowed to freely carry out constitutional responsibilities, we cannot say exactly what the lifting of suspension portends,” Ms Briggs said.

The activist said that the six-month period of emergency rule was characterised by project abandonment, poor performance, and undemocratic practices.

Ms Briggs further stated that the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers inflicted incalculable losses on the people.

She said that Rivers people would demand accountability for the period the state was governed under emergency rule.

Darlington Nwauju, a factional spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers, commended Mr Tinubu for lifting the emergency rule and reinstating Governor Fubara.

However, Mr Nwauju said that during the six-month period, the state witnessed unprecedented poor governance and resource mismanagement.

“Rivers was poorly managed during the past six months. The sanitary condition alone reflected the absence of governance. Workers experienced delayed salary payments,” he said.

He said that the emergency rule period had left Governor Fubara with the huge tasks of restoring confidence, improving infrastructure, and re-establishing investor confidence.

“The state did not attract any foreign direct investment during the emergency rule period, but we must move on now that democracy is back in action,” he said.

Benjamin Okaba, a professor and the president of the Ijaw National Congress, said that although the emergency rule had been lifted, the state had been taken several years backward.

He claimed that no fewer than 10,000 jobs were lost during the six months of emergency rule.

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According to him, suspending the governor, his deputy and the legislature handed absolute power to a sole administrator and undermined democratic principles.

Analysts say that although the lifting of emergency rule has ended uncertainties, questions remain concerning the political climate that awaits Governor Fubara as he returns to office.

They suggest that sincere reconciliation between the governor and other political stakeholders will determine the pace of recovery.

(NAN)