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Tinubu, the Nigerian president, lifts the emergency rule in oil rich Rivers State

Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian president, lifted an emergency rule of six months in Rivers State on Wednesday, reinstating Governor Siminalayi Fubara, and other officials. He had said that a crisis constitutional that had paralysed government had been resolved.

The emergency rule was imposed on 18 March following a standoff that occurred between Fubara, the governor of the state and the legislature. This conflict disrupted the budget approvals leaving the government in limbo. Tinubu claimed that the emergency rule was necessary to avoid anarchy.

Rivers State is located in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta and is a major hub for crude exports. The militants have targeted pipelines before, which has affected output and revenue.

Tinubu stated that intelligence reports indicated a "groundswell" of a new understanding among political stakeholders. This would pave the way for democratic governance to return. The governor, his assistant, and the House of Assembly, which consists of 31 members, are expected to return to work on September 18.

The declaration of emergency triggered over 40 legal challenges across Abuja Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa. Tinubu justified the emergency declaration as a constitutional instrument to restore order and said dissent is part of democratic practice. (Reporting and editing by Chijioke Ahuocha.)

(source: Reuters)