The federal government attributed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State to a step aimed at preventing a total collapse of governance.
Speaking to journalists at the State House Abuja on Wednesday, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, revealed that the President only acted after exhausting all avenues of diplomacy.
“I think the President acted promptly. He gave all the stakeholders a chance to resolve their issues. Before this judgment, he had stepped in and tried to mediate,” Fagbemi clarified.
President Tinubu, in a broadcast to the nation on Tuesday, invoked the emergency measure, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months initially.
Citing prolonged political uncertainty, breach of the constitution, and security concerns, the President invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to support his action.
The Rivers State debacle, which was prompted by a struggle for domination between Governor Fubara and his former chief of staff now Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, had created an impasse in governance of the oil-rich state.
To set matters straight, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as sole administrator of the state.
“In the interim, I hereby make Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.) Administrator to head the affairs of the state in the interests of the good people of Rivers State,” announced Tinubu.
The event has sparked indignation with assertions that the move is not justified and was orchestrated by bias on the part of government in the dispute.
Such perception, Fagbemi dispelled with his argument.
“Was Wike the person who called for the State Assembly to be torn down? I do not see the FCT Minister’s hand in what has happened,” he said.
He also dared those who are against the ruling to seek redress through the National Assembly.
“If the National Assembly believes that the President was in the wrong, he will not get a two-thirds ratification. We are expecting a solution within 48 hours,” Fagbemi added.
