President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike are reportedly planning to orchestrate the forced removal of Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara.
According to the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) said that through judicial means and halted federal allocations, the two leaders aim to destabilize Fubara’s administration and undermine his governance in Rivers State, labeling it a “constitutional coup” that threatens Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organization urged international embassies, including those of the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union, to impose travel restrictions on the judges involved in the controversial decisions.
HURIWA argued that the ruling contradicts a longstanding principle upheld by the Supreme Court, which maintains that federal authorities cannot withhold statutory allocations from states. The association expressed that the judgement jeopardizes the political stability of Rivers State and Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration, suggesting that it is a strategic move to undermine his governance through judicial means.
The statement emphasized that such “partisan” rulings violate judicial impartiality, asserting that the judiciary should protect constitutional rights rather than serve specific political agendas. HURIWA warned of potential civil unrest resulting from the withholding of federal funds, noting that regional groups have already threatened to disrupt essential infrastructure, including oil pipelines, in retaliation for the financial cut.
HURIWA stressed that the court’s decision exacerbates existing tensions and risks inciting further instability in the region. The group likened the ruling to pouring gasoline on the flames of political discord in Rivers State, indicating a deliberate effort to incite civil unrest. They stated that Justice Abdulmalik’s ruling undermines the legitimacy of Governor Fubara’s elected administration, calling it unconstitutional and akin to an attempt to remove the governor without due process.
