A former Commissioner for Information in Rivers State, Ibim Semenitari, has described the end of the six-month-long state of emergency in the state as “a breath of fresh air” and a welcome relief for the people.
Speaking during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, Semenitari expressed joy over President Bola Tinubu’s decision to lift the emergency rule imposed on Rivers since March 18.
“It’s a breath of fresh air,” she said on Wednesday. “As a Rivers State daughter, it feels good to have my state back. It is gratifying. I think there’s relief all over Rivers State. The people are happy. The people are glad that things are hopefully getting back to normal.”
Semenitari noted that the past six months had been difficult for many residents of Rivers, who were troubled by the political instability and uncertainty in the state. She described it as an abnormal situation, where Rivers was the only state in the entire country without a fully functioning democratically elected governor during the period.
“It didn’t feel good being the only state in the entire federation that didn’t have its democratically elected governor for six months,” she said. “And I’m sure most Rivers people feel the same way.”
The state of emergency was declared following political tension and division in the state’s leadership, including a bitter rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and key political stakeholders. The crisis had led to disruptions in governance and created a climate of fear and uncertainty across the state.
In response to the growing instability, President Tinubu imposed emergency measures to stabilize the state and prevent the situation from escalating further. This included suspending some democratic structures and placing certain key functions under federal oversight.
However, with the recent improvement in the political climate and the push for reconciliation among Rivers stakeholders, the President announced the lifting of the emergency rule on Wednesday. This move has been widely welcomed by residents and political observers alike.
Semenitari praised the President’s decision, saying it shows a willingness to allow peace to return to Rivers and to respect the democratic choices of the people. She urged all political actors in the state to learn from the experience and work together to ensure lasting peace and development.
“Now that we have our state back, I hope that all parties can come together, put the people first, and move Rivers forward,” she added.
The end of the emergency rule marks a major turning point for Rivers State, and expectations are high among the people for a return to normal governance, better service delivery, and political stability.
As Rivers begins to heal from months of political tension, residents are hopeful that the state’s leaders will seize this moment to rebuild trust and focus on development that benefits all.
