From what I've seen and from my friends who actually live in Rivers State, emergency rule feels like a huge deal but not always in a good way. Sure, on paper, it's supposed to bring peace and stop politicians from fighting. But for normal people, it can mean a lot more stress and uncertainty. Some worry that if Abuja controls the state, they lose their say in how things are run locally. People feel like outsiders are making decisions that affect their day-to-day lives, from jobs to schools to public services.

I remember when word spread about the emergency rule, my cousin in Port Harcourt freaked out because they thought it would mess with their exams, or protestors would get arrested, or just that there'd be more police everywhere. Stuff like this makes young people super anxious, because history shows that sometimes regular citizens suffer the most when politicians fight. Prices can go up, investments slow down, and everyone is on edge.

So, while politicians claim emergency rule is for stability, a lot of people in Rivers just want leaders to talk things out instead of using scary legal tricks. That's how I see it, and it's what a lot of teens and parents are saying at home too.