A vehement call to cease interference in the internal affairs of Rivers State has been issued by kinsmen of Fubara, directed squarely at President Bola Tinubu.
The controversy surrounds an agreement brokered by the President, which has encountered fierce opposition, most notably from the Opobo Elder Statesmen4Sim, who have unequivocally rejected the purported accord.
The rejection by this group emanates from what they assert to be a lack of legal grounding within the agreement, prompting a heated debate over its legitimacy. Following an emergency meeting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, the group released a communiqué outlining compelling reasons for their outright rejection.
Foremost among their contentions is the argument that President Tinubu, operating within the constitutional framework, lacks the authority to meddle in the internal affairs of a state.
The communiqué, jointly signed by prominent figures including Alabo Reuben Mietamuno Saturday-Jaja, Soide Jaja II, and Alabo Edwin Cockeye Brown, along with members of the Executive Council, emphasized that President Tinubu’s role is limited to overseeing federal appointees and does not extend to dictating terms to a governor.
Citing constitutional limitations, the elders insisted that the President’s agreement cannot supersede court rulings, particularly those pertaining to legal proceedings such as impeachment or legislative matters.
They challenged directives to withdraw court cases, pointing to constitutional provisions mandating vacant seats for legislators who decamped without adhering to party division or merger protocols.
The Opobo elders further asserted that only members of the Edison Ehie-led House of Assembly should be recognized as authentic representatives, dismissing the positions of decamped legislators led by Martin Amaewhule.
Contesting the necessity of seeking approval from FCT Minister, Chief (Barr) Nyesom Wike, for reappointing commissioners, the elders stressed the importance of local government autonomy, asserting that interference from higher authorities infringes upon elected officials’ rights to administer local affairs.
In a resolute conclusion, the elders expressed their unequivocal rejection of the purported agreement, vowing to challenge any attempts to implement its contents within Rivers State. Their stance underscored a firm commitment to upholding constitutional provisions and safeguarding the autonomy of state governance against external interference.
The group declared, “We call on Mr. President to retract this purported agreement, as its execution risks plunging the State into a constitutional crisis. Should this request go unheeded, we are prepared to contest its constitutionality in a court of law as a necessary measure.”
