The Rivers Peace Congress, RPC, has said that the declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu is already yielding positive results, especially in restoring peace, order, and unity to the once politically volatile state.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its national president, Randy Prince, the group expressed strong support for the president’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara and appoint Ibok-Eket Ibas (rtd) as Sole Administrator of the state, following what it described as “months of legislative disobedience, governance breakdown, and brewing anarchy”.
The RPC described President Tinubu’s intervention as bold, timely, and necessary to protect democracy, lives, and public assets from being eroded by personal power struggles.
“The intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State came at a time when the very fabric of governance was at risk,” the statement read.
“The breakdown of trust between the executive and legislature had reached dangerous levels. We had a governor who defied court orders, ignored constitutional checks, and appeared more interested in fighting perceived enemies than in governing. The state was on the brink. But with the state of emergency in place, we are now seeing calm return, institutions function again, and citizens breathe a sigh of relief.”
RPC said that since the appointment of Ibas as the Sole Administrator, there has been a visible improvement in inter-agency cooperation, public service delivery, and conflict resolution, especially in Port Harcourt and surrounding local councils.
“Rivers people can now go to sleep with both eyes closed. Markets have reopened without fear of politically motivated violence. Civil servants are receiving their salaries without stories. The ministries are working, and public projects have resumed. The paralysis that plagued governance has been lifted. And the credit goes to President Tinubu for putting the interest of the people above politics,” the statement added.
Prince noted that while some critics may describe the move as undemocratic, the bigger picture was the preservation of national unity and to salvage the state from total collapse.
“Let us be honest with ourselves, Rivers State was sinking into a constitutional crisis. The judiciary was under siege. The state assembly had become a theatre of war. The governor, by his conduct, isolated himself from elders and even the rule of law. President Tinubu acted, not out of malice, but in defence of peace and the democratic order.”
RPC also praised Ibas for showing maturity, leadership, and humility in handling the complex challenges of Rivers State with minimal disruption.
“Ibas has proven himself to be a bridge builder He has reached out to all factions with dignity and respect. He’s not chasing headlines or fighting ghosts. He’s focused on restoring service delivery, rebuilding institutions, and giving Rivers people a sense of belonging again. That is the kind of leadership we need in times of crisis.”
In the statement, RPC urged international observers and rights organisations to put context before criticism and understand that extraordinary times often require extraordinary decisions to preserve peace and order.
“We invite the international community to see Rivers not through the lens of propaganda but through the real experiences of its citizens,” the statement said.
“Those who are shouting dictatorship from afar did not live here when government offices were under siege and 26 lawmakers were locked out of the assembly thereby denying thousands of Rivers people representation,” Prince said.
“They were not here when government appointments became tools of revenge. We are here, and we can say that the emergency has helped us take a breath and start afresh.”
The group called on Rivers elites, traditional rulers, and the business community to rally behind the Sole Administrator and support the federal government’s roadmap to full political reconciliation and eventual return to democratic elections in the state.
“This is not the time to divide the state further; this is the time for healing. We call on all stakeholders to put Rivers first. We cannot afford to allow personal egos or ethnic loyalties to derail the progress we have started seeing. The Tinubu administration has shown that it has the genuine interest of Rivers at heart. Let us work with it.”
In closing, RPC thanked President Tinubu for taking decisive action when others hesitated and for demonstrating “true statesmanship in the face of political sabotage”.
“History will remember that when Rivers cried for help, President Tinubu answered. He didn’t look the other way. He stood for order, peace, and progress. And we, the Rivers Peace Congress, will continue to support this government and the Sole Administrator as long as they continue to put the people first,” Prince stressed.
