Nigerian governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked President Bola Tinubu to reverse the suspension of Rivers governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The PDP Governors’ Forum described Fubara’s suspension as a “grievous mistake” and an “atrocious and retrograde decision”.
On Tuesday night, President Tinubu hadTinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following what he described as a prolonged political crisis in the south-south state.
The president also suspended Fubara, his deputy and the members of the state assembly.
The President, however, nominated Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the administrator of Rivers state.
Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, in a statement on Wednesday, said the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers is an “utter misgiving”.
Mohammed said Tinubu’s “silence on the active role played” by Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), in the political crisis in Rivers was “golden and enabling”.
“He (Wike) has become a law unto himself because he was playing out your script. Now we know. This is totally unstatemanly, biased, and divisive,” the statement reads.
“We state categorically that this unwarranted but premeditated attack on Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties is today, the greatest threat to democracy in our dear country, Nigeria and it is an ill wind that will blow no one any good.
“It is a dangerous course of action that will not only endanger our hard-won democracy but will exacerbate the crises in the nation, deepen mistrust, elevate security threats, destroy the economy, and our national cohesion and stability.
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in its response signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has already expressed grave concern about the purported suspension by the President of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor, and the Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The NBA affirmed their commitment to upholding the Constitution, defending democratic governance, and ensuring that the rule of law prevails in Nigeria.
“President is therefore called upon to listen to wise counsel and the voice of reason, as well as accept that he made grievous mistakes and acted in haste, and reverse this atrocious and retrograde decision before it is too late.
“This authoritarian shenanigan is unacceptable and cannot stand.”
Mohammed said the forum aligns with the NBA and would approach the court to interpret section 305 (3) of the constitution.
