A socio-political pressure group, the Bonny Development Forum (BDF) has strongly condemned the President Bola Tinubu’s imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it unconstitutional and harmful to the democratic future of the State.

This position was contained in a press statement on Friday, April 1, 2025, jointly signed by its President, Gift Alex-Hart, and Secretary, Patrick Jene Iwari, and made available to Kristina Reports in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The BDF expressed outrage over what it described as the “unlawful removal” of the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, urging President Tinubu and the National Assembly to “checkmate the overbearing antecedents of the Rivers State Sole Administrator”.

“The Bonny Development Forum therefore condemns in its strongest terms, the recent ‘unlawful removal’ of the elected Governor of Rivers State, allegedly orchestrated by the leadership of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration, a brazen act that undermines the democratic principles that our nation cherishes, jeopardizes the rule of law, and truncates the ability of the peace-loving people of Rivers state from genuinely benefitting from the dividends of democracy.”

The Forum warned that the ongoing actions of the Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas, are not only unlawful but also destabilizing.

“He has remained without any verifiable legitimate constitutional duty but rather has embarked on an indiscriminate dismantling of existing democratic structures and handing same over to a group preferred by the Presidency, a clear case of orchestrated power grab.”

The BDF described the process of approving the emergency rule as lacking integrity, stating that “the National Assembly’s approval of the emergency rule via a voice vote instead of a headcount lacked transparency,” and that “the situation in Rivers State deduced as a reason for the state of emergency did not meet the constitutional threshold.”

The Forum also raised concerns about how the Sole Administrator has handled state resources, as well as criticized the appointment of local government Sole Administrators.

“Despite Mr. President’s declaration that the Sole Administrator should not make new laws, only formulate regulations, the Administrator has acted outside these bounds, we doubt whether the Federal Executive Council has met to approve all his illegal actions that amount to gross violation of Presidential orders.”

The BDF also condemned the formation of boards for some State boards and commissions with individuals it alleged were loyalists of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, which it said suggests a deeper political agenda, noting that this act undermines the people of Rivers State and is unconstitutional.

“The constitution of State Boards and Commissions, especially, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and Local Government Service Commission, both stacked with known loyalists of Minister Nyesom Wike, further exposes the hidden agenda behind the state of emergency.”

The group also issued a stern warning that if these actions are not reversed, they may be proof that “the Sole Administrator was enthroned to play the script of the President and his hatchet man in capturing governance, dismantling structures and entrenching Gestapo-style leadership in Rivers State”.

Calling for the immediate return to democratic rule and the reinstatement of Governor Fubara, the group noted that the Presidency has to reinstate the Governor to avoid a total breakdown in law and order in the state.

“There is therefore the urgent need for them to act now in order to avert a situation where things will degenerate to pushing the populace to take their destiny in their own hands.

“While we also call for the speedy return to democratic governance by recalling Governor Sim Fubara, we believe a stitch in time saves nine.”