Rivers State Emergency Rule: Punch Editorial Went Overboard – CRP

A grassroots socio-political organisation, Concerned Rivers People (CRP), has criticised the Punch Editorial of April 15, 2025, declaring that it went overboard.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Alex Nwogu, Public Relations Officer of the Concerned Rivers People, stating that:

“Our attention has been drawn to an editorial in today’s Punch newspaper. Under normal circumstances, we could have ignored it, but the narrative captured in the said editorial is misleading.

“It’s difficult to believe that the editorial team did not conduct the thorough investigation usually associated with it before publishing such content, especially considering that structures of governance are typically set aside under Emergency Rule.

“The Sole Administrator is in place because of the State of Emergency. How is he expected to work with officials of a suspended administration?

“Before that, the Supreme Court had voided the local government election that brought in the sacked council chairmen. The question the editorial failed to address is: were those appointed from Akwa Ibom or Abia State?

“Or better still, are they from anywhere close to Lagos or Ogun State? This is what the editorial failed to thrash out adequately.

“Again, from what perspective is Punch trying to create the impression that there’s a hidden agenda in the entire arrangement in Rivers State?

“An Emergency Rule is simply: ‘an urgent, unexpected, and usually dangerous situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or the environment and requires immediate action.’

“The Sole Administrator has six months to bring about peace, reconcile aggrieved parties, and ensure that the lives and property of residents are secured.

“In what way has the Sole Administrator violated any rules, given that his first mission in Rivers State is to troubleshoot—which he began immediately after assuming office?

“The job of the Sole Administrator is to go to areas where there is trouble in Rivers State and address those troubles to bring about peace.

“The local government was one heavily troubled area, and to restore peace, he appointed fresh administrators to peacefully run the affairs of the councils.

“Calling for the reinstatement of the suspended governor was the climax—suggesting that all is not well with the editorial.

“Siminalayi Fubara was the purveyor and advocate of all that has transpired in Rivers State. Calling for his reinstatement barely two months after he was suspended creates a very wrong impression of the editorial.

“CRP is demanding that the Punch Editorial be reviewed, and all necessary avenues be explored to obtain the correct information before rushing to publish.

“It is not a healthy development for journalism that such an editorial would emanate from a reputable newspaper like Punch without considering all angles.”

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