Elders and leaders of Rivers State, including prominent figures like former Governor Chief Rufus Ada-George and former Deputy Governor Gabriel Toby, have unequivocally rejected President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the ongoing political crisis gripping the state. The elders, expressing concern, believe that Tinubu’s involvement may have exacerbated the existing tensions.
In a communiqué delivered after an emergency meeting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the leaders conveyed their apprehensions about the effectiveness of the presidential directive aimed at resolving the feud between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Governor Siminialayi Fubara.
The communiqué, signed by notable figures such as former military administrators of the state, Godwin Abbey and Ibim Princewill, Chief Sara-Igbe, former spokesman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, second Republic Senator Bennett Birabi, and Niger Delta activist Ms. Annkio Briggs, among others, reflected the collective sentiment of the elders.
While acknowledging their initial call for the President’s intervention, the elders expressed uncertainty about whether Tinubu’s involvement had indeed addressed or intensified the existing problems. They raised concerns that Tinubu’s directives for resolving the political impasse may have run afoul of the constitution he pledged to uphold.
The communique reads, “The directives unilaterally suspended the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by virtue of an attempt to reverse a court order recognising Edison Ehie as the speaker and directing that the remainder of members of the House of Assembly constituted the quorum for legislative business.
“That the directive also contravenes the hallowed doctrine and practice of separation of lowers, particularly as it affects the responsibility of the judiciary.
“Can Mr President or the executive arm of government overrule the decisions of courts of competent jurisdiction?
“This portends executive rascality which undermines our constitutional democracy, rule of law and good governance.
“The directives to the parties were one-sided in favour of Chief Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and at the detriment of the Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, and the good people of Rivers State.
“In the eyes of the law and due process, as evidenced by the Rivers State High Court decision, Martins Amaewhule and his team have ceased to exist in the state House of Assembly having defected to another political party, and therefore cannot be reinstated and remunerated through the back door.
“It is the duty of the xxecutive arm of government to provide accommodation for legislators in a constitutional democracy as exemplified by the FCT minister with respect to the National Assembly.
“It is therefore, hypocritical to suggest, that the Rivers State House of Assembly under Martins Amaewhule could sit anywhere of their choice, whereas, in Abuja, it is the FCT Minister, on behalf of the executive arm that provides accommodation for federal legislators”
The elders equally frowned at the directive to re-present the budget passed and signed into law, tagging it an attempt to ridicule and denigrate the office of the governor and the good people of the state, including the judiciary.
They said, “In public administration parlance, a person can exit service either by resignation, sack, voluntary retirement or death. It is therefore preposterous for the President to direct that the people who have exited service for personal reasons be re-absorbed.
“The Forum enjoined all responsible citizens of Rivers State to rise up in this our moment of truth, to salvage the soul of Rivers State. Our fathers fought for the creation of Rivers State, we will stand to defend it.
“When injustice and criminality become law and a way of life in the polity, resistance becomes a duty.
“Finally, the Forum condemns in its entirety, the directives for the resolution of the political crisis in Rivers State. Nigeria is a constitutional democracy where only the courts can order the reversal of acts done or carried out under the provisions of the law.
“Therefore any resolution or directive that intends to undermine the principle of separation of powers and the rule of law is unacceptable, null and void and will be resisted, using all constitutional means at our disposal.”
The rejection of Tinubu’s intervention marks a significant development in the ongoing political saga in Rivers State, highlighting the complexities and divergent opinions surrounding efforts to bring about a resolution. As the situation unfolds, the state remains at the center of political discussions, both at the local and national levels.