Bandits suspected to be armed herders have struck again in Ondo State following the fresh killing of five more farmers.

The farmers were killed in the early hours of Wednesday after the armed herders invaded a farming settlement in Aba Oyinbo, Akure North Local Council Area of the state.

The latest killing comes about two weeks after over 20 farmers were murdered during a midnight invasion of four communities in Ala Elefosan.

Meanwhile, residents of the state, angered by the development, stormed the Governor’s Office, lamenting the government’s inability to stop the incessant attacks and killings.

The protesters, who shut down the Governor’s Office, also barricaded roads in the state, leaving commuters and motorists stranded.

The Guardian

After airstrikes, Israel says it has launched new ground operation in Gaza

The Israeli military said on Wednesday its forces resumed ground operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip, as a second day of airstrikes killed at least 48 Palestinians, according to local health workers.

The renewed ground operations came a day after more than 400 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes in one of the deadliest episodes since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023, shattering a ceasefire that has largely held since January.

The Israeli military said its operations extended Israel's control over the Netzarim Corridor, which bisects Gaza, and were a "focused" manoeuvre aimed at creating a partial buffer zone between the north and the south of the enclave.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas said the ground operation and the incursion into the Netzarim Corridor were a "new and dangerous violation" of the two-month-old ceasefire agreement. In a statement, the group reaffirmed its commitment to the deal and called on mediators to "assume their responsibilities".

The United Nations said a strike killed a foreign staffer and wounded five workers at a U.N. site in central Gaza City on Wednesday. Gaza's health ministry attributed the strike to Israel, but Israel denied this, saying it hit a Hamas site where it detected preparations for firing into Israeli territory.

Jorge Moreira da Silva, executive director of the U.N. Office for Project Services, said: "Israel knew that this was a U.N. premises, that people were living, staying and working there, it is a compound. It is a very well-known place."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a full investigation and condemned all attacks on U.N. personnel. In a statement he said the strike brought to at least 280 the number of U.N. colleagues killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

In Sofia, the foreign ministry said a Bulgarian working for the U.N. died on Wednesday in Gaza, citing preliminary information.

US SAYS 'BRIDGE' PROPOSAL ON THE TABLE

Yosef Levi Sfari, Israel's ambassador to Sofia, offered condolences for the Bulgarian citizen's death and said in a social media post that the incident was being investigated. But he added that an initial examination found "no connection" to Israeli military activity.

Israel, which has vowed to eradicate Hamas, said on Tuesday that its latest onslaught in Gaza was "just the beginning".

The U.S. State Department blamed Hamas for the resumption of hostilities and said there was still a U.S.-crafted "bridge" proposal on the table to extend the ceasefire and bring about the release of hostages held by the group in Gaza.

"The opportunity is still there, but it’s closing fast," a State Department spokesperson said, adding that Hamas' response was "totally unacceptable" and that the U.S. stood with Israel.

In the latest violence, local health workers said an Israeli airstrike killed four people and wounded 10 others in a house in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, where the army renewed evacuation orders to residents earlier on Wednesday.

In Beit Lahiya, an Israeli airstrike killed 24 people at a mourning tent, medics said.

Israel and Hamas accuse each other of breaching the truce, which had offered a respite for Gaza's 2.3 million residents after 17 months of warreduced the enclave to rubble and forced most of its population to evacuate multiple times.

The Israeli campaign has killed more than 49,000 people in Gaza, Palestinian health authorities say, and caused a humanitarian crisis with shortages of food, fuel and water.

Israel has accused Hamas of using Palestinian civilians as human shields. Hamas denies this and accuses Israel of indiscriminate bombings.

The war - the most devastating episode in decades of Israel-Palestinian conflict - was triggered by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which gunmen killed some 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

PROTESTS IN ISRAEL

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to resume bombardments has triggered protests in Israel as 59 hostages are still held in Gaza, with 24 of them believed to be still alive.

A coalition of hostage families and Netanyahu critics has regrouped and accuses the prime minister of using the war for political ends.

Palestinian medics said Israeli tank shelling on the main north-south Salahuddin Road in Gaza killed one Palestinian and wounded others while medics and witnesses said the Israeli operations there deterred people and vehicles from using the road.

Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua told Reuters the effect of closing the Salahuddin Road was a "total coup" against the three-phase ceasefire agreement and a tightening of the blockade on Gaza.

He said the group would welcome any proposal "as long as it is based on launching negotiation on the second phase and a complete end to the war in Gaza".

Earlier on Wednesday, the Israeli army dropped leaflets in the northern and southern Gaza Strip, once again ordering residents to evacuate their homes.

Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a video statement that if the hostages were not released, "Israel will act with force you have not yet seen".

The renewed violence was condemned by some Western nations, including France and Germany, as well as Qatar and Egypt, which had been acting as mediators in the ceasefire negotiations.

Jordan's King Abdullah called for the ceasefire to be restored and for aid flows to resume. "Israel's resumption of attacks on Gaza is an extremely dangerous step," he said on a visit to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Trump, Zelenskiy pledge in phone call to work for end to war in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy agreed on Wednesday to work together to end Russia's war with Ukraine, in what the White House described as a "fantastic" one-hour phone call.

In their first conversation since an Oval Office shouting match on February 28, Zelenskiy thanked Trump for U.S. support and the two leaders agreed that technical teams would meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

Zelenskiy asked Trump for more air defence support to protect his country against Russian attacks and the U.S. president said he would help locate the necessary military equipment in Europe, the White House said.

Trump briefed Zelenskiy on his phone call on Tuesday with Vladimir Putin, in which the Russian president rejected a proposed full 30-day ceasefire sought by Trump that Ukraine said it would be prepared to accept, but agreed to pause attacks on energy infrastructure.

That narrowly defined pause appeared in doubt on Wednesday, however, with Moscow saying Ukraine hit an oil depot in southern Russia while Kyiv said Russia had struck hospitals and homes, and knocked out power to some railways.

Still, the two sides carried out a prisoner exchange, each releasing 175 troops in a deal facilitated by the United Arab Emirates. Moscow said it freed an additional 22 wounded Ukrainians as a goodwill gesture.

Zelenskiy, describing his conversation with Trump as "positive, very substantive and frank," said he had confirmed Kyiv's readiness to halt strikes on Russian infrastructure and to accept an unconditional frontline ceasefire as the U.S. proposed earlier.

"One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure. I supported this step, and Ukraine confirmed that we are ready to implement it," he said on social media.

Later, the Ukrainian president told reporters in a video call that Trump understands Kyiv will not recognize occupied land as Russian.

Zelenskiy said the Russian strikes, which he said were carried out since Trump's call with Putin, showed that Russia was not ready for peace. He said the U.S. should be in charge of monitoring any ceasefire, adding a halt to infrastructure attacks could be quickly established.

The Kremlin said it had called off planned attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, including by shooting down seven of Russia's own drones heading towards Ukraine. It accused Kyiv of failing to call off its own attacks in what it called an attempt to sabotage the agreement.

Trump suggested to Zelenskiy the U.S. could help run, and possibly own, Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, according to a statement by the U.S. administration. Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, has been shut down since Russian troops occupied it in 2022.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine has begun talks with the U.S. about its possible involvement in restoring the Zaporizhzhia plant.

EUROPEANS WARY

Trump has long promised to end Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two. But his outreach to Putin has unnerved European allies, who fear it heralds a fundamental shift after 80 years in which defending Europe from Russian expansionism was the core mission of U.S. foreign policy.

Some European leaders said Putin's rejection of Trump's proposed full truce was proof Moscow was not seeking peace. The offer to temporarily stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities counted for "nothing" and Trump would have to win greater concessions, Germany's defence minister said.

"Putin is playing a game here and I'm sure that the American president won't be able to sit and watch for much longer," Boris Pistorius told German broadcaster ZDF.

The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she would present a proposal to European leaders in Brussels on Thursday to provide Ukraine with 2 million rounds of large-calibre artillery ammunition, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

SCORES OF ATTACKS

For most of the past three years, Russia has relentlessly attacked Ukraine's power grid, arguing that civilian infrastructure is a legitimate target because it facilitates Kyiv's fighting capabilities. Ukrainians say such attacks have subsided in recent months.

Kyiv has steadily developed capabilities to mount long-range attacks into Russia, frequently using drones to target distant oil and gas sites, which it says provide fuel for Russia's troops and income to fund the war.

In the attacks overnight, Ukrainian regional authorities said Russian drones damaged two hospitals in the northeastern Sumy region, causing no injuries but forcing the evacuation of patients and staff.

Near Kyiv, a 60-year-old man was injured and airstrikes hit homes and businesses in the Bucha district north of the capital. Attacks damaged power systems for railways in Dnipropetrovsk in the south on Wednesday, the state railway said.

Authorities in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar said a Ukrainian drone attack caused a fire at an oil depot near the village of Kavkazskaya. No one was injured.

The depot is a rail terminal for Russian oil supplies to a pipeline linking Kazakhstan to the Black Sea. A representative of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium operator said oil flows were stable. Two industry sources said the attack could reduce Russian supplies to the pipeline.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Putin, Trump trust each other – Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, trust each other, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said regarding the two leaders’ phone conversation on Tuesday.

During the call, which lasted more than two hours, the two heads of state discussed the resolution of the Ukraine conflict, with Putin responding positively to a 30-day ceasefire proposed earlier by Trump and agreeing to halt attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure as an initial step in that direction. On top of that, the Russian and US presidents reportedly discussed the situation in the Middle East.

Speaking to Russian media on Wednesday, Peskov stated, “I can say with a high degree of confidence that Presidents Putin and Trump understand each other well, trust each other, and intend to proceed step-by-step along the path of normalizing Russian-US relations.”

According to the Kremlin spokesman, “both today and tomorrow, there will be additional arrangements of concrete dates for next contacts as well as the makeup [of the delegations].” He promised to reveal more details once Moscow and Washington have agreed on these specifics.

Peskov told reporters that given the legacy left behind by the previous administration in Washington, getting relations back on track is a labor-intensive task. However, the two presidents’ “strong will” provides grounds for optimism, the official stated.

According to Peskov, the two presidents discussed Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine, which will “top the agenda of any contacts” on resolving the conflict. However, given its sensitivity, the issue will not be discussed publicly for the time being, the official stressed.

President Putin also conveyed some other “nuances in the context of a potential ceasefire”to his US colleague, the Kremlin spokesman revealed.

Peskov concluded that Moscow is “closely watching whether the Kiev regime will heed the strong determination of the Russian and US presidents to do everything possible” to settle the conflict peacefully.

According to the Kremlin’s readout of the March 18 call, Putin “immediately” ordered Russian troops to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy sites following the conversation, and also responded “favorably” to the maritime truce proposal, with specific details to be worked out in further talks.

Commenting on the talks in a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that the peace process “is now in full force and effect.”

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky stated on Tuesday that he supports a maritime ceasefire and a moratorium on strikes against energy facilities, pending further details from the US.

Reuters/RT

Following the protracted political crisis in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on Tuesday. He suspended the embattled Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all the members of the House of Assembly for six months. He also selected Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as administrator to take charge of Rivers State’s affairs pending the suspension period. It is a crazy situation that culminates the months of crisis that has made Rivers State a centre of chaos and endless political sabre-rattling. Expectedly, there has been a legal debate about the constitutionality of the President’s actions and what is at stake for his political ambitions in the seemingly unending crisis. For the next couple of weeks, we can be very assured that we will be subjected to endless analysis of this development on various media platforms. The interpreters of all maladies will turn this development over and over, scrutinising it to death.

As military vans full of armed operatives head toward the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt following the President’s pronouncement, some of us are uneasy at this turn of events. One can only imagine what the spectacle of a military takeover even at a mere state level will mean for Nigeria’s fragile democracy. If armed personnel can be brought in to resolve the embattled Rivers State crisis, how many steps before people begin to make another plausible association between a military resolution at the federal level too? Yes, the Rivers crisis is overdue for a resolution, but a state of emergency and an appointment of a uniformed officer seems imprudent.

Unlike the previous instances where a state of emergency was declared, we had just passed a moment in our national life where people experiencing severe hardships made some rather loud and feverish calls for a military takeover. It was just this time last year. Those who dared voice out their desire to see the army return to power were scolded for their deliriousness. They said the military has no business in government anymore forever, and we should learn to stop casting nostalgic glances back to the time men in jackboots sashayed freely on the Nigerian political stage. A mere one year later, and it seems the possibility of them returning is not foreclosed.

In August, some 90 people were arrested because they had carried Russian flags during their demonstrations against strangulating economic hardship, and some misguided ones among them wanted a coup. In November, they were taken to trial although the authorities had to drop the charges of treason against them following the outcry that saw 30 minors among them being charged to court. These are all very recent developments where the present government demonstrated a high level of intolerance against any suggestion of military solutions to any of the crises facing Nigeria. Those who were looking for a coup might have been guilty of presuming that the military had anything better to offer Nigeria, but their agitation against a government that had grown too malicious against its own people was coming from nowhere.

During that protest, the police Inspector General Kayode Egbetokun swore that the demonstrations and the call for a military takeover were financed by some sponsors from “outside the country” and they must arrest those carrying flags to be able to get to the sponsors. He was so sure that “the sponsors of these protests, some of them, have a clear motive to subvert the government of the day; we are not going to allow that; we will defend our democracy”. The same government that promised to defend democracy against interlopers is using the military to subvert a fractious democracy in Rivers State. Do not get me wrong, even though I think the Rivers State crisis has reached a point where something needed to give, the sudden show of resolve on Tinubu’s part starkly contradicts the ethos of a democracy that corrects itself without the intervention of men in fatigues, which this administration has tried to project.

In October, Presidential Aide Bayo Onanuga went on a rampage against a media house that dared to give a voice to the agitation of Nigerians who were looking for a military solution to Nigeria’s economic crisis. Onanuga had said, “It is unacceptable…to incite calls for military intervention based on transient difficulties.” Why is it suddenly acceptable for soldiers to take over the Rivers Government House? Have they concluded that what is going on in that region is more than “transient difficulties”?

The second thing that comes to the fore is Tinubu’s record on a president’s declaring a state of emergency. Again, this is another instance where the bad faith politics that Tinubu has played for years catches up with him. Like his pre-presidency commentary on fuel subsidies and several other economic policies, Tinubu is once again being revealed as a blowhard with many opinions but very few moral convictions. Now that he is in power, his doublemindedness is being manifested when he takes the very actions for which he condemns his predecessors. From his poor record on human rights to the subversion of the ideals of democracy, Tinubu’s presidency has revealed him to be a man whose loudest pronouncements on issues were never more than cynically exploiting situations. For a man who once said that a state of emergency in Lagos would “kill” democracy, he has sure come a very long way.

In 2013 when former President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, Tinubu condemned him saying it was a ploy to manipulate the 2015 election. Just 12 years later, the same Tinubu would go on to state in his speech about a state of emergency that the latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today, there have been disturbing incidents of vandalisation of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them….With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will stand by and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security.

So how did he move from reading Jonathan’s action as a ruse of self-perpetuation to now seeing a state of emergency as what a “good and responsible” president should do in a bad situation? It is tempting to think that he has evolved ideologically and politically, and that experience has taught him practical politics, but I am more inclined to believe he was just a loudmouth who never cared about Nigeria. His politics is, and has always been, self-serving. That is why, no matter where his heart might lie in this Rivers issue, it will be virtually impossible for him to convince anyone of his righteousness. His intervention in Rivers State is far more self-evidently about 2027 politics than his projection on Jonathan. Given how much the Rivers electoral figures tilted against him in 2023, he cannot risk losing that state again.

Yes, the politics of partisanship that makes people question the actions of a leader they did not vote for will definitely be at play in the cynicism that will greet Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, but that will not exhaust the reason people will read meanings in his action. It will also be because this man spent his political opposition years blowing ashes into gusts of wind to taint his opponents. Now that the wind of fate has suddenly reversed direction, he is accumulating the same dust and his true self is being revealed. The same measure with which he judged others is being used to find him wanting.

Punch

In the wake of a Supreme Court-triggered crisis in Rivers State —masterminded by Nyesom Wike, whose outsize influence over the judiciary has earned him the fittingly dubious distinction of being the de facto head of Nigeria’s “judiciary” — President Bola Tinubu has, with a stroke of imperial presidential pronouncement, declared a state of emergency and suspended democracy.

In a twist as darkly ironic as it is emblematic, he has chosen to replace elected officials with a retired military officer by the name of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, effectively reviving the tired and dangerous fallacy (actively nurtured and propagated by Nigeria’s past military dictators) that when civilians falter, only soldiers can "restore order."

This move reinforces the infantilization of civilian governance and reduces democracy to something that must be periodically "rescued" by the men in fatigues.

Interestingly, in May 2013, Tinubu himself condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa as a dangerous assault on democracy and a ploy to rig the 2015 election.

“The body language of the Jonathan administration leads any keen watcher of events to the unmistakable conclusion of the existence of a surreptitious but barely disguised intention to muzzle the elected governments of these states for what is clearly a display of unpardonable mediocrity and diabolic partisanship geared towards 2015,” he said.

Now, with his own state of emergency in Rivers, two years before the 2027 election in which he will seek a second term, the question writes itself: Is this, too, a “display of unpardonable mediocrity and diabolic partisanship geared towards 2027”?

Or do the rules of democracy shift when the emperor changes robes?

One hopes Tinubu has fully considered the ramifications of his decision. He based his suspension of democracy in Rivers on the Supreme Court’s tendentious declaration that “there is no government in Rivers State.”

Well, for the millions of Nigerians already struggling under the weight of his government’s reckless economic policies, “there is no government in Nigeria” right now. Governance, for most, is an abstraction at best and an illusion long shattered at worst.

Should the military intervene to restore governance?

William Arruda

Soft skills have always been a career superpower, but with the rapid rise of technology—especially generative AI—they’re more essential than ever. No matter how much automation gets integrated into work processes, there are things AI simply can’t do (at least not yet). The skills that set you apart? The human ones—the ability to build relationships, inspire others, and think creatively.

Soft Skills: Your Secret Weapon in the Modern Workplace

Technology is evolving fast and that’s great news. Tech can tackle tasks that are repetitive and mundane, freeing you up to focus on the most meaningful aspects of work. This shift makes soft skills (also known as social skills) more valuable than ever.

In today’s workplace—and in the future—these six soft skills will not only make you indispensable but also help you grow your personal brand and professional success. The best part? They’re all connected, so improving one will naturally enhance the others.

1. Emotional Intelligence Is The Soft Skill That Makes You A Leader

Many brilliant professionals unknowingly limit their careers because they lack emotional intelligence (EQ)—the secret ingredient that turns managers into leaders and coworkers into collaboration champions. It’s the foundation of authentic leadership – the style of leadership that is most effective today. Focusing on being a great listener, demonstrating empathy and managing your emotions allows you to connect deeply with the people you seek to impact, impress and inspire.

Think about the best leader you’ve ever had. Chance are, they were highly emotionally intelligent—able to read the room, inspire confidence, and make everyone feel valued. That’s the kind of leader people want to follow.

2. Creativity Can Be Your AI-Proof Superpower

Sure, AI can analyze data much faster than any human, but true creativity? That’s all you. Creativity is about connecting seemingly unrelated ideas, challenging the status quo, and asking “What if?”

The most innovative solutions—from Fortune 100 teams to solo entrepreneurs—didn’t come from following a formula. They came from thinking differently and daring to explore new possibilities. Leadersip communication and creativity expert Janine MacLachlan suggests, “To be truly creative, you need to have a deep understanding of your audience and your goals. From there look at provocative questions that will challenge your thinking. Starting from a point human connection is what will deliver the creativity that innovation requires today.” To gain your competitive edge at work, train yourself to think differently. The vast and rapid changes in the workplace call for innovative solutions and at the foundation of those solutions is creative thinking. AI can’t replace your unique perspective and human intuition.

3. Virtual Teamwork Is The New Normal

Remember when we thought remote work was just a phase brough on by an unexpected global epidemic? Now, it’s just... work. Even with return-to-office (RTO) mandates, virtual collaboration isn’t going anywhere. Employees are demanding it and inspired leaders are allowing it. Although 46% of businesses have increased the number of in-office days required for staff, 72% of business leaders have granted exceptions to their RTO policy, according to Tech.co’s 2025 Impact of Technology on the Workplace Report. Virtual, or at least some sort of hybrid, work is here to stay. That means you need to build the skills to stand out and succeed. Top-performing teams know how to:

• Recreate random connection opportunities (watercooler moments) online—creating interactions that go beyond emails and Slack messages
• Read digital body language—picking up on engagement cues in a virtual setting
• Make everyone feel heard—ensuring all voices are included, no matter the time zone

Mastering virtual teamwork isn’t optional anymore—it’s a must-have skill that will help you make your mark.

4. Relationship Building Is Your Career Currency

We hear it all the time: Your network is your net worth. But being an effective networker is not collecting LinkedIn connections like Pokémon cards. Successful networking means building and nurturing real, meaningful relationships in the real and virtual worlds.

Workplace superstars spend at least as much time nurturing relationships as they do sharpening technical skills they know that:

• The strongest opportunities come from authentic connections
• People do business with those they know, like, and trust
• A solid network opens doors that no résumé or brochure ever will

To stand out, be the person who checks in with others without an agenda and actively celebrates others’ wins. Those relationships will fuel your career more than any technical expertise ever could.

5. Adaptability Will Future-Proof Your Career

AI, automation, hybrid work models, multigenerational workplaces—change is happening fast. The people who thrive in this dynamic environment are not necessarily the smartest or the most experienced. They’re the people who are most adaptable. Being adaptable means:

• Embracing–and even initiating–change instead of resisting it
• Staying ahead of industry trends
• Viewing challenges not as roadblocks, but as building blocks to the future

The most future-proof professionals don’t just react to change; they inspire and enact it. Stay curious. Stay open. Stay ready.

6. Virtual Presentation Skills Help You Own The Virtual Stage

I’ve watched too many brilliant ideas fall flat because they weren’t presented well. In a world where virtual communication is king, the ability to own the virtual stage is differentiating and powerful.

The best virtual presenters understand that delivering presentations online requires a different mindset and different skills than presenting in conference room A They:

• Treat the camera like a person, not a lens – doubling their humanity and emotion
• Design presentation materials that are riveting and designed for the small screen
• Create a captivating experience and don’t just talk through slides

It’s not just what you say—it’s how you make people feel. And in the virtual world, that makes all the difference.

The Synergy Of Soft Skills

Here’s the magic of these social skills is that they work together. When you boost your emotional intelligence, you become a better team player. When you’re a better team player, you build stronger relationships. Stronger relationships lead to more creative collaborations. And when you can present your ideas effectively, you win more opportunities.

Soft skills aren’t just important—they’re essential. As technology evolves, your ability to connect, communicate, and create will set you apart. Invest in these skills now. They’re what make you uniquely human. In an increasingly digital world, that is your biggest advantage.

Forbes

President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the subsequent suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have sparked a heated debate about the constitutionality of his actions. The president cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) as the legal basis for his decision. To determine whether his actions were constitutional, it is necessary to analyze Section 305 and other relevant provisions of the Constitution.

Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution: State of Emergency Provisions

Section 305 outlines the conditions under which the president can declare a state of emergency in a state or the entire federation. The key provisions are as follows:

1. Grounds for Declaration (Section 305(1)):

   - A state of emergency can be declared if the federation or any part of it is threatened by war or actual breakdown of public order and safety, to the extent that the government cannot function.

   - It can also be declared in cases of natural disasters or public danger that threaten the existence of the federation or any part of it.

2. Procedure for Declaration (Section 305(2)):

   - The president must publish a proclamation in the Official Gazette declaring the state of emergency.

   - The president must immediately transmit copies of the proclamation to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

   - The National Assembly must convene within two days to consider the proclamation and decide whether to approve it by a simple majority vote in both chambers.

3. Duration of Emergency (Section 305(3)):

   - A state of emergency initially lasts for six months, but it can be extended by the National Assembly for periods not exceeding six months at a time.

4. Governor’s Role (Section 305(5)):

   - If the emergency affects only a state, the governor of that state must request the president to issue the proclamation, except in cases where the governor is unable to make such a request.

Key Issues in Tinubu’s Declaration

1. Was the Threshold for a State of Emergency Met?

   - Section 305 requires a threat to public order and safety or a breakdown of governance that prevents the government from functioning. While Rivers State has been embroiled in a political crisis, including clashes between pro-Wike and pro-Fubara factions, it is debatable whether the situation meets the threshold of a "breakdown of public order" as envisaged by the Constitution. The crisis, though severe, has not escalated to the level of widespread violence or anarchy that would justify a state of emergency.

2. Did the President Follow the Correct Procedure?

   - Section 305(2) requires the president to transmit the proclamation to the National Assembly for approval. While President Tinubu stated that the declaration had been published in the Federal Gazette and that it has been forwarded to the National Assembly

3. Was the Governor’s Consent Sought?

   - Section 305(5) requires the governor of the affected state to request the proclamation unless the governor is unable to do so. In this case, Governor Fubara did not request the state of emergency, and there is no evidence to suggest that he was unable to make such a request. This raises questions about the legality of the president’s unilateral action.

4. Suspension of Elected Officials:

   - Section 305 does not explicitly grant the president the power to suspend elected officials, such as a governor, deputy governor, or state legislators. The suspension of these officials appears to be an extra-constitutional measure not supported by the text of the Constitution.

   - The Constitution provides specific procedures for the removal of a governor, such as impeachment by the state House of Assembly (Section 188) or judicial intervention. The president’s suspension of Governor Fubara and other officials bypasses these constitutional processes and undermines the principle of federalism and the autonomy of state governments.

Other Relevant Constitutional Provisions

1. Section 5: Executive Powers of the President:

   - The president’s executive powers are limited to matters within the exclusive legislative list (federal jurisdiction). The suspension of state officials falls under the residual legislative list, which is within the purview of state governments. Therefore, the president’s actions exceed his constitutional authority.

2. Section 11: Federal Intervention in State Affairs:

   - Section 11 allows the National Assembly to make laws for the peace, order, and good governance of a state in cases of emergency. However, this provision does not grant the president the power to suspend state officials or take over the functions of a state government.

3. Section 188: Impeachment of a Governor:

   - The Constitution provides a clear process for the removal of a governor through impeachment by the state House of Assembly. The president’s suspension of Governor Fubara bypasses this process and violates the principle of separation of powers.

Conclusion: Was President Tinubu’s Action Constitutional?

Based on the analysis of Section 305 and other relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution, President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency and suspension of elected officials in Rivers State appear to be unconstitutional for the following reasons:

1. The threshold for declaring a state of emergency under Section 305 was not met, as the political crisis in Rivers State, while concerning, does not constitute a breakdown of public order that prevents the government from functioning.

2. The president’s suspension of elected officials, including the governor, deputy governor, and state legislators, has no basis in the Constitution. The Constitution provides specific procedures for the removal of state officials, which were not followed in this case.

3. The president’s actions undermine the principles of federalism and separation of powers, as they encroach on the autonomy of state governments and bypass constitutional processes for resolving political disputes.

In summary, while the political crisis in Rivers State requires urgent resolution, President Tinubu’s actions appear to overstep the constitutional limits of his powers. The suspension of elected officials and the unilateral declaration of a state of emergency without following due process raise serious legal and constitutional concerns. The matter is likely to be challenged in court, and the judiciary will play a critical role in determining the legality of the president’s actions.

My dear Rivers People,

I address you today with a deep sense of responsibility and calm, as we navigate this unfortunate moment in our state’s political history.

Since assuming office as your Governor, all my actions and decisions have been guided by my constitutional oath of office and a great sense of duty.

We prioritized the protection of lives and property and ensured the continuous progress of our dear State.

Even in the face of the political impasse, we have remained committed to constitutional order and the rule of law, putting the interest of our people above all else.

This was why, immediately after Mr. President’s intervention to broker peace, we did not hesitate to implement the agreed terms in good faith, including welcoming back commissioners who had previously resigned on their own volition.

Furthermore, we moved swiftly to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement immediately we received the certified true copy of the judgement to return the state to normalcy.

These steps were taken not for personal gains but to foster peace, unity and stability in our dear State.

Unfortunately, at every turn, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly frustrated our efforts, thus making genuine peace and progress difficult.

Our priorities remained the security of lives and property and advancing the well-being and prosperity of Rivers people.

Yes, we have political disagreements, but good governance had continued, salaries have been paid, and great projects were being executed to move the State forward. Above all, Rivers State is safe, secure and peaceful under our watch.

At this critical time, I urge all Rivers people to remain peaceful and law-abiding. We will engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that our democracy remains strong and that Rivers State continues to thrive.

We have always been a resilient people, and we will face this situation with wisdom, patience, and unwavering faith in the democratic process.

God bless Rivers State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS

On March 18, 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months in the first instance. The decision, announced in a national broadcast, was justified by the president as a necessary measure to address the prolonged political crisis, breakdown of law and order, and threats to national security in the oil-rich state. Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) was appointed as Administrator to oversee the state during the emergency period.

Tinubu cited the governor’s alleged unconstitutional actions, including the demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly in December 2023 and failure to rebuild it, as well as the Supreme Court’s ruling that declared the state effectively without a functional government. He also highlighted recent pipeline vandalism by militants and the inability of the executive and legislative arms to work together as reasons for the declaration. Tinubu emphasized that the move was aimed at restoring peace, order, and democratic governance in the state.

However, the declaration has been met with widespread condemnation from political leaders, legal experts, civil society groups, and ordinary Nigerians, who argue that the president’s actions are unconstitutional and politically motivated.

Political Opposition and Legal Challenges

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to which Governor Fubara belongs, rejected the declaration, calling it an “utter violation” of the 1999 Constitution. PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba stated that the president lacks the power to suspend a democratically elected governor and described the move as an attempt to impose undemocratic rule and undermine the will of Rivers State voters. He also accused Tinubu of seeking to advance the interests of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, criticized Tinubu for being a “vested partisan actor” in the crisis. Atiku accused the president of enabling the chaos and failing to prevent the destruction of national infrastructure in Rivers State. He described the declaration as “political manipulation” and an assault on democracy.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also condemned the move, with its president, Afam Osigwe, stating that the suspension of elected officials under a state of emergency is unconstitutional. The NBA warned that the action sets a dangerous precedent and undermines democratic governance. Legal experts, including human rights lawyer Morakinyo Olasupo, argued that the president cannot suspend a democratically elected governor without following due legal processes, such as impeachment by the state House of Assembly or a court order.

South-South Leaders and Civil Society React

South-South leaders and stakeholders, including the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), criticized the declaration as ill-advised and politically motivated. Former Akwa Ibom Attorney General Uwemedimo Nwoko described the move as part of a “script” to take control of Rivers State, while former Ijaw Youth Council president Eric Omare accused Tinubu of bias in favor of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, a key figure in the crisis.

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) condemned the declaration as an act of oppression against the Ijaw people, while former MOSIEND spokesman Amaebi Clarkson called it a “well-oiled script” aimed at influencing the 2027 elections.

Public Outcry and Mixed Reactions

Nigerians on social media expressed mixed reactions to the declaration. While some supported the move as necessary to restore order, others criticized it as an overreach and a threat to democracy. Many questioned the legality of suspending elected officials and accused Tinubu of double standards, noting that other regions facing severe security challenges, such as the North-East and South-East, have not been subjected to similar measures.

Users like Ebovi Wali Global highlighted the perceived inconsistency, stating, “IPOB and UGM ravaged the East, no state of emergency. Boko Haram and herdsmen ravaged the North, no state of emergency.” Others, such as Jamilu Sufi, questioned the democratic legitimacy of the move, asking, “How can you suspend a democratically elected governor? Is this a democracy or a one-man dictatorship?”

Rivers State, already embroiled in a deepening political crisis, faced further turmoil this week as two separate explosions rocked oil facilities in the state, raising concerns about the security of critical infrastructure and the potential economic fallout. The incidents come amid a bitter feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which has plunged the state into political instability.

First Explosion: Trans-Niger Pipeline Blown Up

On Monday night, an explosion struck the Trans-Niger pipeline near the Bodo-Bonny Road in Gokana Local Government Area, a key route for exporting Nigerian crude oil to international markets. The pipeline, operated by Shell, transports crude from oil fields in Rivers and Bayelsa states to the Bonny export terminal. Footage shared by Channels Television showed thick black smoke billowing into the sky, highlighting the severity of the blast.

The cause of the explosion remains unclear, but it occurred against the backdrop of heightened political tensions in the state. Just days earlier, the Ijaw National Congress had threatened to shut down crude oil exploration in the Niger Delta if Governor Fubara was impeached. The explosion also followed a move by pro-Wike lawmakers to serve Fubara and his deputy with a notice of gross misconduct, further escalating the political standoff.

Second Explosion: Pipeline Manifold in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni

Just hours after the first explosion, a second blast occurred on Tuesday at a pipeline manifold in the Omwawriwa axis of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area. The manifold connects to a federal pipeline that transports crude oil to Brass in Bayelsa State. Community sources reported seeing massive flames and thick smoke rising from the remote forest location, though the incident has yet to be officially confirmed by authorities.

The Rivers State Police Command spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, stated that she would verify the incident but had not provided further details at the time of reporting. A video obtained by journalists showed a large fire burning in the forest, underscoring the severity of the situation.

Analysis: Dire Consequences for Nigeria’s Struggling Economy

The explosions at these critical oil facilities could not have come at a worse time for Nigeria’s economy, which has been grappling with consistently low oil production in recent years. Oil exports account for over 90% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and a significant portion of government revenue. Any disruption to oil production and exports, such as the one caused by these explosions, has far-reaching implications for the country’s already fragile economy.

1. Decline in Oil Production and Revenue Losses

Nigeria has struggled to meet its OPEC production quota in recent years, with output often falling below 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) due to a combination of oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and underinvestment in the sector. The explosions in Rivers State are likely to exacerbate this situation, as repairs to the damaged pipelines could take weeks or even months. During this period, oil production from affected fields will be halted, leading to significant revenue losses for both the government and international oil companies operating in the region.

2. Impact on Foreign Exchange Earnings

The Nigerian naira has been under immense pressure due to a shortage of foreign exchange, driven in part by declining oil revenues. The disruption of crude oil exports through the Trans-Niger pipeline and the Brass manifold will further reduce foreign exchange inflows, worsening the naira’s depreciation and making it more expensive to import essential goods. This could lead to higher inflation, which is already at double-digit levels, further eroding the purchasing power of Nigerians.

3. Threat to Energy Security and Power Supply

The explosions also pose a threat to Nigeria’s energy security. The Trans-Niger pipeline not only transports crude for export but also supplies gas to power plants that generate electricity for the national grid. Any disruption to gas supply could lead to a further decline in power generation, exacerbating the country’s chronic electricity shortages and negatively impacting businesses and households.

4. Escalating Security and Environmental Concerns

The explosions highlight the vulnerability of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure to sabotage and vandalism, particularly in the Niger Delta region, which has a history of militancy and unrest. The political crisis in Rivers State has created a volatile environment that could encourage further attacks on oil facilities, leading to a cycle of instability and economic losses. Additionally, the environmental damage caused by the explosions, including oil spills and air pollution, could have long-term consequences for local communities and ecosystems.

5. Investor Confidence at Risk

The recurring incidents of pipeline vandalism and the inability of the government to secure critical infrastructure could further erode investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. International oil companies, already wary of the country’s challenging operating environment, may scale back investments, leading to a decline in exploration and production activities. This would further constrain Nigeria’s ability to boost oil output and revenue in the medium to long term.