Reps to Tinubu: Reinstate Fubara, deploy Abdusalami committee
Amidst the ongoing State of Emergency declared in Rivers State, President Tinubu has been implored to reinstate the governor of the state.
According to the statement made by the state’s House of Representatives member, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, said the intelligence relied on by the president to declare the state of emergency in Rivers has been compromised.
Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a House of Representatives member representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in Rivers State, has implored President Bola Tinubu to reinstate Governor of the state Siminalayi Fubara.
In his imploration, he also called on the president to invite the National Peace Committee chaired by former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, to restore parity between the opposing parties in the oil-rich state and create soft ground for peace.
Reps To Tinubu: Reinstate Fubara
This recommendation was made on Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande−a socio-political programme broadcast on Channels TV.
It can be recalled that president Tinubu, on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, in a nationwide broadcast, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, which led to the suspension of the state governor and his deputy; as well as the members of the Rivers State Assembly for six months.
Former naval chief, Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd), was since then appointed as sole administrator for Rivers State amidst the period of emergency rule.
President Tinubu based his decision on Section 305 of the Nigeria 1999 Constitution, stressing that he will no longer watch the political situation in Rivers State to become unmanageable.
His declaration of state of emergency was seconded by the National Assembly in a controversial voice note that has been largely doctored.
The suspension of Fubara and the Rivers State legislators have been widely rebuffed and criticised by many notable Nigerians, legal moguls, and groups including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Femi Falana, the Labor Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), etc.
Reps To Tinubu: Reinstate Fubara
Is Intelligence Compromised?
Abiante cited that there were several gaps evident in the action and conduct of the National Assembly, stressing that no provisions were made for those who voted yes or no to abstain.
Reps To Tinubu: Reinstate Fubara
He stated some of the gaps in president Tinubu’s assertion include that Fubara did endeavor to reconstruct the demolished chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“That is not correct,” he said, citing the visit of the new sole administrator inspecting the building under construction that Fubara started.
“There was this issue that pipelines were broken; there was an explosion; it’s also on record that the pipeline is back to work,” Abiante said.
According to him, the intelligence the president based his declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State has been compromised.
“That is to tell us that it is either the intelligence that was relied upon may have been rigged.
If in this country we could rig intelligence to the president, are we not in danger?” he asked.
Abiante proposed that Tinubu should invite peace committee chaired by Abdusalami Abubakar to wade in the ongoing Rivers State political crisis.
The peace committee comprises of prominent Nigerians, including, Bishop Matthew Kukah; the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad 111; among others.
Bishop Matthew Kukah.
He said, “I can’t think of any other group of persons higher than that. If he had the opportunity as a military general to elongate his stay in power, he didn’t do it. Let us repopulate the committee with him taking the lead. Let us see if the parties involved would also refuse to subject themselves to the level of discussions.”
Government of Sokoto
In the statement of Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council:
Reps To Tinubu: Reinstate Fubara
“It would be wrong to allow this thing to fester; it would even be very wrong to allow it to get to that six months because you will begin to play Nigerians against fellow Nigerians.
“On the streets of Port Harcourt, what is being discussed is that it is the fight to grab the resources of Rivers State. Let us not forget that Rivers State contributes so much to the welfare of Nigeria and Nigerians.
“Mr. President should also understand that he also got some votes from Rivers State; it was not just one vote. In politics, one man cannot be in his polling unit and be in the local government area.
“So, no one man can deliver the votes in a state. If we now begin to say there is one Superman and because of that superman, we want to mortgage the people, if the people’s resistance comes, the superman can only cast a single vote and that would be all,” the lawmaker added.
‘Opposition Voice Is Lost’
Also contributing on the programme, a party adviser, Baba Yusuf, hit federal lawmakers, from opposition parties in the National Assembly, for not repelling the emergency rule in Rivers State.
Yusuf, who was a former chief executive of Airport Free Trade Zone, Nigeria, stated that the rights of the citizens to vote for whomever they want have been suspended by the president’s declaration of the emergency rule in Rivers State.
“The people that have been entrusted with that trust by the people have failed the people and have now decided to take the fight to a personal level. However, you see it, it is a personal fight.
“The biggest focal point for me and Nigerians is the National Assembly. The president can do whatever he wants.
Reps To Tinubu: Reinstate Fubara
What is key for us is that which was lacking 25 years ago before we got into the Fourth Republic that people died and we shed tears and we lost time with military juntas, the legislature is the missing link that made democracy what it is anywhere in the world.
“And here we are alas! We have a legislature that has come into play. I put squarely the responsibility of what happened in Rivers on the National Assembly, especially the opposition caucus that has suddenly lost their voice.”
Also, Dayo Akintobi, a social commentator, seconded Yusuf’s claim that the opposition had lost its voice in the National Assembly.
“Where was the opposition? Their voices were drowned out. I’m sure that the votes were not overwhelming; there would have been one or two dissents but there was no opportunity for them to even express that dissent.”
He noted that the drafter of the constitution did not plan to empower the president with such power to abuse the will of the power stipulated in the democratic process.
Akintobi noted that it was the presidential misuse of power to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspend Fubara.
Reps To Tinubu: Reinstate Fubara
