Rivers: 3 Times Fubara Abused Rule of Law As Pointed Out By Tinubu

• President Bola Tinubu finally suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and the Rivers state House of Assembly following the political crisis rocking the state
• In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday night, March 18, Tinubu pointed out three times the suspended governor abused the rule of law
• The president also recalled that he had made efforts to ensure a lasting peace but the parties involved have refused to comply

Aso Rock, Abuja - President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, March 18, took a bold decision on the political crisis rocking Rivers as he declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state as the parties involved refused to find a lasting peace between camps.

The two political titans in the state, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the immediate past governor of Rivers and minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, have been at loggerheads barely six months after the former resumed the mantle of leadership.

Read also

Breaking: Fubara finally breaks silence after Tinubu's suspension

Why Wike has strong influence in Rivers

While Wike is no longer in office, 27 of the 30 lawmakers, led by the Martins Amaewhule are loyal to the FCT minister, a situation which give the former governor much strength in the battle against the incumbent.

Announcing the suspension of the executive and legislature on Tuesday, March 18, President Tinubu recalled his efforts to restore sanity in the state and the failure of the parties involved to let peace reign.

The president in his speech also pointed out three actions of the suspended Governor Fubara, which violated the rule of law. These violations cut across constitutional breaches and leadership qualities. These are the violations as pointed out by Tinubu.

Demolition of the state assembly complex

Tinubu, in his address, pointed out that Governor Fubara for, "unjustifiable reason", demolished the state house of assembly on December 13, 2023, and 14 months after, the governor did not rebuild it.

Read also

Reno Omokri, Fani-Kayode, Shehu Sani react as Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers

Legit.ng recalled that in December 2023, the assembly served an impeachment notice on Governor Fubara. In fighting back, the governor demolished the assembly complex, citing structural defects as the reason for his action.

Failure to implement Supreme Court judgment

President Tinubu also pointed out that the governor failed to implement the Supreme Court judgment, one of which was the representation of the appropriation bill, adding that the governor and the lawmakers failed to understand that they are meant to work together for democracy to thrive.

The president cited an excerpt of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment that said that Governor Fubara deliberately collapsed "the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is, there is no government in Rivers State.”

Failure to disown Ijaw youths' violence threat

Also, President Tinubu pointed out that some militants had threatened violence, against their perceived enemy of the governor, and Fubara did not disown them up till Tuesday, March 18, when the state of emergency was declared.

Read also

State of emergency: Tinubu told to suspend Wike as President sanctions Rivers Governor Fubara

Legit.ng recalled that the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) on Wednesday, March 5, threatened to destabilise oil production in the Niger Delta region should the Amaewhule-led House of Assembly impeach Governor Fubara because of the Supreme Court judgment.

Tinubu then explained that the security reports in Rivers had indicated that between Monday and Tuesday, militants have started vandalising pipelines in the state and the governor did not take any action on it.

Read the full speech of the president here:

Rivers lawmakers raise allegations against Fubara

Legit.ng earlier reported that Governor Fubara was accused of frustrating the move by the state House of Assembly to put an end to the political crisis.

Martin Amaewhule, from a faction loyal to the immediate past governor of Rivers Nyesom Wike, raised the allegation against the embattled governor.

The House alleged that the governor's claim that he sent a letter to them was ridiculous and challenged him to present a copy of the document.

Source: Legit.ng