Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned that the lifting of the suspension placed on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly should not be seen as a victory worth celebrating.
Recall that on March 18, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers State following months of political unrest.
As part of the intervention, the governor, his deputy, and the lawmakers were suspended for an initial period of six months.
On Wednesday, Tinubu ended the emergency rule in the state and asked Fubara and the lawmakers to resume work on Thursday, September 18.
In a post on X on Thursday, Abubakar described the president’s initial action as unconstitutional.
“Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about,” Abubakar wrote.
“The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today.
“President Tinubu had no power to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration.”