The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu’s removal of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, calling it unconstitutional and demanding that the President reverse his decision.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the entire House of Assembly amid the escalating political crisis. He also appointed retired naval chief Ibok-Ete Ibas as the sole administrator of the state.
NBA President, Afam Osigwe, reiterated the association’s stance in an appearance on Sunday Politics, asserting that the constitution does not recognize the office of a “Sole Administrator” and that Fubara must be reinstated. “The President’s actions are unconstitutional, and we believe Fubara must be restored to his rightful position as governor,” Osigwe emphasized, adding that the appointment of Ibas was a violation of constitutional principles.
Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, further criticized the federal government’s approach, likening it to “using a sledgehammer for a headache.” He argued that the solution to Rivers’ political crisis is not through overreaching, undemocratic, and unconstitutional measures, but through a political resolution that respects the will of the people.
Refuting claims of a constitutional gap in Section 305, which President Tinubu cited for his actions, Osigwe insisted that the law is clear and should be applied correctly. He dismissed the National Assembly’s approval of the state of emergency as insufficient, stating that the endorsement amounted to “placing something on nothing.”
The NBA remains steadfast in its call for the President to restore constitutional order in Rivers State, demanding that political problems be solved through lawful and democratic means.
