“Reverse Fubara’s Suspension Now” – Northern Elders Tell Tinubu

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately reverse the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the State House of Assembly, expressing strong disapproval over the federal intervention in the state’s political crisis.

In a statement released on Friday, NEF spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere described the action as unwarranted, arguing that the conditions for declaring a state of emergency as outlined in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) had not been met in Rivers State.

Jiddere noted that while the Constitution permits the President to declare a state of emergency in the Federation or any part of it, such powers can only be exercised under specific conditions such as war, natural disasters, or a breakdown of public order. According to him, none of these situations existed in Rivers, suggesting instead that the suspension may have been motivated by personal vendettas involving a serving federal minister and the immediate past governor of the state.

The Forum criticized the move as detrimental to democratic principles and urged the federal government to pursue a lasting and lawful resolution to the crisis. It stressed the importance of restoring Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the legislative arm of the state to uphold democracy, justice, and public order.

The NEF also warned against the federal government allowing similar political tensions to escalate in other states, such as the ongoing disputes surrounding the traditional leadership in the Kano Emirate.