The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, has stated that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, should not be held responsible for the State of Emergency declaration in Rivers State.
Recall that on Tuesday, March 18, President Bola Tinubu announced a State of Emergency in the oil-rich region, attributing it to the ongoing political turmoil. The president suspended the governor and House of Assembly members for six months, designating former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ibas, as the sole administrator.
Nevertheless, numerous individuals accused the president of favoring Wike and attributing the crisis to Fubara.
During a discussion with State House Correspondents on Thursday, Fagbemi refuted assertions that Wike triggered the state of emergency in Rivers. He pointed the finger at Governor Fubara for the political deadlock that resulted in the State of Emergency proclamation.
“There are occasions when it comes to national issues. We have to come out plainly. Was Wike the one that asked the State Assembly to be demolished? I don’t see the hand of the Minister of the FCT in what happened,” he said.
Fagbemi further explained that the Supreme Court determined that the governor had anticipated a potential impeachment and ordered the demolition of the House of Assembly to thwart it. He stated that if the Supreme Court had resolved that there was no functioning government in Rivers, then a responsible leader had no alternative but to make the decision taken on Tuesday.
“The President took a very bold decision. As things stand we have a duty to give maximum respect to the judgement of the Supreme Court,” he said.
Fagbemi recommended that those dissatisfied with the emergency rule declaration in Rivers should turn to the National Assembly.
“If the National Assembly feel what the President did was not okay, he will not have two third from the National Assembly. We are expecting that within 48 hours something will come out,” he said.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
