The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice recently accused the now-suspended Governor of Rivers State of allegedly guiding militants to blow up pipelines in the state. The Attorney General defended the President’s declaration of a state of emergency by stating that although the governor was not directly responsible, he did not prevent the vandalism. It was mentioned that anyone damaging the pipelines is considered an enemy of the state and the country due to its reliance on crude oil.
The suspension of the governor and members of the state House of Assembly was deemed necessary to restore a conducive atmosphere for governance in the state. The President appointed a retired Vice Admiral as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until normalcy is restored.
The political crisis in Rivers State originated from a power struggle between the governor and his predecessor, leading to prolonged governance issues and legal disputes. Despite the Supreme Court ruling against the governor’s actions, governance remained paralyzed, with key bills left pending.
Recent pipeline explosions in the state were linked to militants allegedly supporting the suspended governor, raising security concerns. The situation prompted the President to declare a state of emergency and take measures to address the ongoing crisis in Rivers State.