Renowned environmentalist and activist Annkio Briggs has expressed continued dissatisfaction among the people of Rivers State over the federal government’s imposition of emergency rule, even as residents count down to its expected conclusion on October 1st.
Speaking during a live interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Briggs was frank about the mood on the streets of Rivers. “We, the people of Rivers, are still not happy,” she said. “But we’re watching and waiting to see what happens by October 1st.”
The state of emergency was declared in March 2025 by President Bola Tinubu, following months of political unrest between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the now FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The President’s drastic measure saw the suspension of Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Oduh, and the entire state House of Assembly.
In their place, Tinubu installed retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs — a decision that continues to draw criticism from civic groups and stakeholders.
“Nearly four months later, no one is really held accountable,” Briggs noted. “And it’s the people of Rivers who continue to suffer in silence.”
The political standoff that triggered the emergency was rooted in a bitter power tussle between Wike and Fubara, leading to intense divisions within the state’s leadership.
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Although a truce meeting was held in late June at the Presidential Villa — attended by Tinubu, Wike, Fubara, and lawmakers — critics like Briggs argue that the resolution remains largely cosmetic.
“Nothing has really changed,” Briggs stated, accusing Wike of refusing to relinquish political influence in the oil-rich state. “He doesn’t see himself as a former governor. He still wants to control the reins of power in Rivers.”
Despite public declarations of unity, many believe the deep-seated issues remain unresolved.
With just over two months to the scheduled end of the emergency, all eyes are on Abuja to see whether the federal government will restore democratic governance — or extend the administrator’s mandate.