In a dramatic twist to the escalating political crisis gripping Rivers State, Chief Magistrate Ejike King George has tendered his resignation, denouncing what he termed a “quasi-military administration” imposed by the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
In a powerfully worded resignation letter dated April 11, 2025, and addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State via the Secretary of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission, Magistrate George made his stance clear—he could no longer, in good conscience, serve under what he described as an alien and undemocratic system.
> “This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern state like ours,” George wrote.
The respected jurist, who has served 22 years in legal practice—including 16 dedicated years within the Rivers State Judiciary—expressed deep concern over what he called the erosion of constitutional governance. He argued that remaining in office under the current regime would amount to “tacit and naïve acquiescence” to tyranny.
> “The current style of governance is not only alien to our democratic ethos but also antithetical to the core values that the judiciary holds dear,” he asserted.
Magistrate George’s resignation comes at a time when Rivers State is embroiled in a fierce political storm. The State House of Assembly recently moved to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, triggering mass protests, institutional unrest, and sweeping deployments of federal security forces to key government facilities.
In a controversial move, the federal government declared a state of emergency in the state, effectively sidelining the civilian administration and placing governance under a military-style command structure.
Legal analysts and political observers have called George’s resignation both courageous and symbolic, reflecting the growing unease within the judiciary over what many see as a creeping descent into authoritarianism.
The letter’s closing words—“Thanks, Milord, for the opportunity to serve”—may sound polite, but they carry a deafening undertone of disillusionment and resistance, echoing loudly across the walls of justice in a state now teetering on the edge.
As Rivers State braces for what may be a turbulent redefinition of its democratic trajectory, the resignation of Chief Magistrate Ejike King George has emerged as a clarion call for the rule of law amid the shadows of executive overreach.
PIONEER NEWS 