Rivers Crisis: List of Governors Who Have Publicly Endorsed Tinubu's Suspension of Fubara
- President Bola Tinubu's proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers state has continued to generate reactions from concerned Nigerians
- The president made the announcement on Tuesday, March 18, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all the state House of Assembly members
- While some people have criticised the president, no less than three governors have thrown their weight behind Tinubu, citing the importance of peace and Nigeria's economy
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The political crisis rocking Rivers state has been trailed by the threat of impeachment as the Rivers state House of Assembly-led by Martin Amaewhule camp, accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu of gross misconduct.
The crisis started barely six months after Fubara resumed the office of power and he allegedly worked to remove the speaker of the House, a development the immediate past governor, Nyesom Wike, was displeased with.
Source: Twitter
Wike, who currently served as minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), complained about the governor's move to hijack the political structure of the state from him. A development which led to a prolonged crisis in the state.
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Rivers crisis: “Why Tinubu should restore Fubara, engage Abdulsalami committee,” Rep speaks
President Bola Tinubu and the courts, including the Supreme Court, have intervened but all to vain. The president subsequently declared a state of emergency and announced an initial six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and all the state House of Assembly members.
Tinubu's proclamation has led to debate and controversies among several Nigerians from different sectors and has been publicly supported by at least three Nigerian governors. Below is the list of the governors who have supported the move.
Hope Uzodimma of Imo
Source: Twitter
The governor of Imo state, who doubles as the chairman of the Progressive Governors' Forum, Hope Uzodimma, publicly supported President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers state.
At a press conference, the governor said the president's move was proactive and a step that was necessary to prevent the growing crisis in the oil-rich state. The APC governor said the political crisis in Rivers would have destabilised the state and Nigeria's economy.
See the video of the governor's comment here:
Monday Okpebholo of Edo
The governor of Edo state, Monday Okpebholo, has commended President Bola Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers, adding that the president saved the country's economy with his unilateral action.
The Nation reported that Okpebholo while representing President Tinubu at the flagoff of the construction of a federal road in the state, criticised former President Goodluck Jonathan, who earlier claimed that the declaration would paint Nigeria in a bad light.
Cross Rivers governor
In a formal statement, the Cross River state government rejected the position of the south-south Governors' Forum, which expressed its reservation for President Tinubu's proclamation of state of emergency in Rivers.
According to Business Day, the state's acting governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey explained that the state was solidly behind President Tinubu's move, adding that it was to restore order and stop the growing unrest in the state.
Seyi Makinde opposes Rivers emergency rule
Unlike Uzodimma and other governors listed above, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has publicly opposed the emergency rule and the suspension of Governor Fubara.
Makinde's position was contained in a newsletter he released on Thursday, March 20.
"In my newsletter today, I talked about the need for right-thinking members of society to take a stand against the illegal suspension of elected officials in the executive and legislative arms of government as part of a state of emergency declared by the president in Rivers state," Makinde said as he shared the newsletter on X.
Makinde is one of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors who have taken a decisive step to challenge President Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers state in court.
Rivers: Senators walk out of Akpabio
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency did not sit well with some senators, despite the Senate voting in support of the move.
During the debate of the motion, some senators reportedly shared different views, forcing Senate President Godswill Akpabio to adopt voice voting.
Senator Seriake Dickson from Bayelsa state confronted Akpabio during plenary, with three senators reportedly walking out in disagreement.
Article updated with the reaction of Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo state, by head of politics/CA desk, Nurudeen Lawal.
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Source: Legit.ng
