Former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar has said that lifting the suspension on the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and members of the state House of Assembly is not worth celebrating.
Chronicle NG reports that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Tinubu subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision attracted widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
Others praised the move as a necessary and realistic step.
On June 3, Fubara paid a visit to the president at his home in Lagos.
That made it the second time Fubara and Tinubu would meet behind closed doors since his suspension.
Rivers: Ibas bows out, hands over to Fubara
Wike commends Tinubu for reinstating Fubara, ending emergency rule in Rivers
Fubara also met with Wike to reconcile their differences and attended several events together.
Following the meeting, Wike declared that the political feud between him and Fubara had been resolved.
On Wednesday, Tinubu lifted the state’s emergency rule and directed Fubara, his deputy, and lawmakers to return to work on Thursday, September 18.
In a post on Thursday via his official X Twitter, Atiku labeled the president’s original move as unconstitutional, which remains illegal today.
Atiku claimed Tinubu lacked the authority to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers.
Atiku wrote, “Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about.” The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today.
“President Tinubu had no power to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
