South-South, South-East Professionals Demand Reinstatement of Rivers Governor, HoA

The South-South, South-East Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN) have condemned the suspension of key democratic institutions in Rivers State following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule.

The group is demanding the immediate reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu, and the state’s elected lawmakers, warning that the ongoing crisis is discouraging foreign investment.

President Tinubu imposed emergency rule in Rivers State last Tuesday, citing political instability. However, in a statement on Thursday, SESSPN’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Emeka Ugwu-Ojo, criticized the move, calling it counterproductive.

Ugwu-Ojo revealed that international investors who had shown interest in Rivers’ non-oil sectors are now pulling out, shifting their focus to Lagos due to the absence of a constitutionally recognized government in the state.

He shared an account of a recent investor visit, where a foreign investor, initially interested in opportunities in Rivers, Lagos, and Abuja, abandoned plans for Rivers after the sudden dissolution of the state government.

According to SESSPN, this uncertainty poses a major threat to Rivers’ economy, which had been working to attract private sector investments beyond oil and gas. The group warned that unless the situation is reversed, the state could lose billions in foreign direct investment, similar to the losses experienced during the militancy era.

The crisis also endangers the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri Economic Corridor project, which was designed to boost trade and industrialization across multiple regions. With investors now hesitant, the economic vision for the corridor is at serious risk.

SESSPN urged the presidency and the National Assembly to act swiftly to reinstate the state’s elected leaders and restore democratic governance. The group stressed that the people of Rivers should not suffer due to political disputes among a few politicians.

The professionals’ group emphasized that investors require stability and warned that the current situation is sending the wrong message to both local and international stakeholders.