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.
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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.”
