Rivers Elders Reject Tinubu’s Truce

By – Memoye Oghu

The Rivers State Elders and Leaders Forum led by former governor of the state, Chief Rufus Ada-George has rejected the presidential agreement to resolve the political feud in the state between Gov Sim Fubara and his political godfather and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, describing it as a violation of the constitution which he swore on oath to uphold.

Briefing the media on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the state capital, the Forum, after an emergency meeting in response to the intervention and directives of the President, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the current political crisis in the State issued a communique condemning terms of the agreement which they say is skewed in favour of the former governor and detrimental to the incumbent governor and the state.

The communique dated 19 December, 2023 and signed by all members of the forum recalled that, “in our communiqué of 17th and 18th December, 2023, we urged Mr. President to intervene in the political crisis in Rivers State, for which we commend his prompt intervention . . . but we are at a loss as to whether his intervention has solved the problem or escalated it.”

The communique went on to state that, “the directives contravene the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which Mr. President swore to uphold at all times.

“The directives unilaterally suspended the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by virtue of an attempt to reverse a court order recognizing Rt. Honourable Edison Ehie as the speaker and directing that the remainder of members of the House of Assembly constituted the quorum for legislative business.

“That the directive also contravenes the hallowed doctrine and practice of separation of powers, particularly as it affect the responsibility of the judiciary.”

According to the forum, the presidential directives in resolution of the political crisis portends executive rascality which undermines our constitutional democracy, rule of law and good governance.

Even as it said that the directives were one sided in favour of Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and at the detriment of the Governor, Siminialayi Fubara and the good people of Rivers State.