NEWS LEVERAGE

Governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have expressed their opposition to the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. They accuse President Bola Tinubu of supporting FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, whom they claim has been implementing a scripted agenda in the state.

In a statement signed by its Chairman and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, the Governors said it appeared the FCT minister had become a law unto himself and stated that the unwarranted attack on the party and other opposition parties is the greatest threat to democracy.

They urged President Tinubu to reverse the atrocious and biased action in Rivers State and admit that he acted in haste.

The statement reads;

“The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum ( PDPGF) notes with grave concern and utter misgiving the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers State by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast of Tuesday, 18th March, 2025.

“We stand in solidarity with His Excellency , Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and the good people of Rivers State at this very difficult and trying moment of the state’s political history. There is no other time that our philosophy of ‘TOUCH ONE TOUCH ALL’ is more apt than now.

“He who goes to the court of equity must go with clean hands. Mr. President, your silence on the active role played by your Minister of the FCT in the Rivers impasse is golden and enabling. He has become a law unto himself because he was playing out your script. Now we know. This is totally un-statemanly, biased, and divisive.

We state categorically that this unwarranted but premeditated attack on Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties is today, the greatest threat to democracy in our dear country, Nigeria and it is an ill wind that will blow no one any good. It is a dangerous course of action that will not only endanger our hard won democracy, but will exacerbate the crises in the nation, deepen mistrust, elevate security threats, destroy the economy, and our national cohesion and stability.

“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in it’s response signed by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has already expressed grave concern about the purported suspension by the President of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor, and the Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The NBA affirmed their commitment to upholding the Constitution, defending democratic governance, and ensuring that the rule of law prevails in Nigeria. In their words, “A state of emergency is an extraordinary measure that must be invoked strictly within constitutional limits. The removal of elected officials under the pretext of emergency rule is unconstitutional and unacceptable.

“The Forum completely aligns itself with the NBA and promises to subject Section 305 (3) of the Constitution to judicial interpretation. This authoritarian shenanigan is unacceptable and cannot stand.

Mr President is therefore called upon to listen to wise counsel and the voice of reason, as well as accept that he made grievous mistakes and acted in haste, and reverse this atrocious and retrograde decision before it is too late,“ the statement read.