Mkpoikana Udoma
The Forum briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday said Governor Fubara was coerced into submitting to President Tinubu’s premeditated action plan, even when President does not possess such powers to impose his will on the State Government.
Convener of Forum and Former Governor of Rivers State, Rufus Ada-George and 20 others, in a letter to President Tinubu and Governor Fubara, said the intervention of the President has not helped in quelling the crisis in the state but escalated it.
Ada-George maintained that the resolution document was lopsided and skewed in favour of the interest of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to the detriment of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the governance of the state and the interest of the generality of the good people of Rivers State.
The letter reads in part, “The composition and attendance showed lack of balance between the
two warring factions. The faction recognized by a court of competent jurisdiction, the Elders of Rivers State, traditional rulers, women and youth leadership, were not represented at the meeting.
“The eight-point resolution or directive asked for the reinstatement of commissioners who willfully resigned, and the 27 former legislators who in all clear conscience and by legal implication jumped boat and got themselves dismissed from the affairs of the Assembly, should be reinstated and remunerated, smacks of a sense of political irresponsibility, lack of sensitivity to the laws of the land and due process.
“Furthermore, does the President have the powers to overrule the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction, when he is a product of the court himself? Central to this, Mr. President, is the sacred doctrine and practice of the separation of powers. May we inform Mr. President that the seats of the cross-carpeting members have been declared vacant by the Speaker, known to law, Rt Hon Ehie Edison through an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court Port Harcourt division.
“We cannot but imagine how providing accommodation and meeting venue for legislative business becomes the duty of members of the House of Assembly who you directed to seat wherever they choose and not by the Executive Arm as in the case of the National Assembly Complex were Legislative Quarters are provided and maintained by the Executive Arm.
“Given the foregoing, it is obviously evident that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State, was coerced into submitting to your premeditated action plan even when it is well known that Mr. President does not possess such powers to give directives to a democratically elected Governor or impose his will on the State Government and the good people of Rivers State.
“As far as we are concerned, that meeting did not happen, and those directives are not implementable because to do so will be acting against the constitution and the rule of law.”
Addressing the Governor Fubara, the Forum said the environment in which the presidential peace proclamation was brokered showed no sensitivity to the people’s security, political and social interest; adding that proclamation was a death sentence as it breaches all legal and constitutional rights which the governor to uphold.
“We state that you do not place too much premium on the assurances of detractors; rather, be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria you swore to uphold. The Forum believes that there could be peace in Port Harcourt and indeed the entire Rivers State if only your Excellency would be circumspect in your actions, measured in your engagements, and have a critical mind in your review of events.
“Therefore Mr. Governor, you have no constitutional or any other legal power to implement the Presidential Peace Proclamation.”
