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The Nigerian Senate is backing Tinubu’s Rivers State decision
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Let’s get into today’s edition:
The Nigerian Senate is throwing its weight behind Tinubu
Tinubu’s CNG project is in the news for the wrong reasons again
The Big Deal
The Nigerian Senate is throwing its weight behind Tinubu
You know how we said President Tinubu was either having a bad migraine or chilling somewhere in Aso Rock yesterday? Well, it was very bold of us to assume that the president was losing any sleep over the criticisms that have followed his decision to announce a state of emergency in Rivers state and suspend its governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state assembly. The Senate has now officially backed the president’s decision.
During a closed-door session on Thursday, March 20, senators referred back to Section 305(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which basically gives the President a free pass to press the emergency button when governance is in shambles. And according to them, Rivers State has officially hit that level. The Senate also added a six-month review clause, meaning Tinubu is expected to check in every now and then to see if things have calmed down enough to restore normal governance.
Since Rivers State is currently in governance limbo, the National Assembly has taken over legislative functions under Section 11(4) of the Constitution. In other words, Rivers state assembly members are on forced leave, and Abuja is now in charge of making laws for the state.
To make it all look a little less like a full-blown power grab, the Senate also announced a “committee of eminent citizens” to act as mediators between Fubara and Nyesom Wike’s factions. Their job is to sit both sides down and figure out a way forward.
This Senate approval follows an earlier approval from the House of Representatives, which not only endorsed the emergency rule but also signed off on the six-month suspension of Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the entire elected Rivers State House of Assembly. Essentially, Rivers’ democratic institutions have been packed up and stored away for now.
Why is this a big deal?
The Senate’s approval of Tinubu’s state of emergency in Rivers State doesn’t change the fact that this entire move is built on shaky legal grounds. Section 305 of the Constitution allows a president to declare a state of emergency, but it doesn’t give him the power to remove elected officials. That’s what Section 188 is for—it outlines the impeachment process, the only legal way to remove a sitting governor or deputy.
By endorsing Tinubu’s decision, the Senate isn’t just backing an unconstitutional act; it’s setting a dangerous precedent that could be used to justify similar moves in other states.
Then there’s the question of whether Rivers State even qualifies for emergency rule in the first place. A state of emergency is meant for situations of national danger—think terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or violent attacks. What’s happening in Rivers? Political in-fighting between Wike and Fubara, some factional disputes in the state house of assembly, and a few protests. That’s a political rift, not a national security threat. But the Senate’s decision makes it seem like political beef is now a national crisis that requires federal intervention. So, if political disagreements are now grounds for emergency rule, what stops the federal government from using the same excuse elsewhere?
Even more concerning is the fact that the Senate has now invoked Section 11(4) to take over legislative functions in the state. This means Abuja will now be making laws for Rivers people, completely sidelining the lawmakers they actually voted for, which is highly convenient given that Wike is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This directly attacks democracy and raises serious questions about how much power the federal government can exercise over state affairs. Imagine waking up one day to discover that your state’s laws are now being dictated by politicians in Abuja simply because some people in government couldn’t settle their differences.
To make matters worse, the Senate has given Tinubu six months to “review” the emergency situation. But what stops this from being extended indefinitely since they’ve already started twisting the Constitution to their taste?
Today, it’s Rivers State; tomorrow, it could be any other state with political tensions. Hell, it could even be the whole country at this point. Are we being led by the Jagaban of the boy’s club and his guys, or do we just have a shit president?
Tinubu’s CNG project is in the news for the wrong reasons again
Almost a year ago, President Tinubu presented his Compressed Natural Gas vehicles initiative as the best thing after sliced bread, and since then, Nigerians have been reluctant to buy it. The PR efforts may have just hit another roadblock following a sad incident in Abuja.
On Wednesday, March 19, tragedy struck along the Abuja-Keffi Road when a truck, allegedly carrying CNG, lost control and exploded at Kugbo Hill, near Karu Bridge. Eyewitnesses say the explosion turned into an inferno, burning several commuters alive and reducing about six cars to ashes. Some commuters had no choice but to abandon their vehicles and trek home.
Emergency responders, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), rushed to the scene to manage the disaster. Though there are speculations, nobody is sure of the death toll yet.
In an attempt to clear the air, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (PCNG) Initiative released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident. They also advised the public not to jump to conclusions about the cause of the explosion. According to the PCNG office, preliminary reports suggest that a brake system failure led to a petrol tank explosion, which is not necessarily a CNG-related issue.
But Nigerians have been skeptical about CNG vehicles since Tinubu started pushing for them. The Edo explosion in October 2024 was the biggest discouraging factor for most people. Experts have confirmed that CNG vehicles are safe, but maybe it is time for the presidency to invest in a nationwide CNG education series rather than expecting Nigerians to take its word for it.
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thiefnubu is just a shit president, simple.