The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has reiterated its position that the removal of the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by President Bola Tinubu is unconstitutional and has called on the President to reverse that decision.
On Tuesday, the President declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy and all the members of the House of Assembly over the political crisis rocking the oil-rich state.
The President appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator.
Following up with its earlier statement condemning the action of the President regarding Rivers State, the NBA whose President, Afam Osigwe, was a guest on Sunday Politics, insists that Fubara must be brought back to his position as the governor of Rivers State as the constitution does not recognise a Sole Administrator.
“That is our belief, that is what we expect the president to do, to restore him (Fubara) back to power having unconstitutionally removed him,” Osigwe said on the programme when asked if the president should recall the governor.
“And that is why we do not recognise a sole administrator is the rightful person to occupy the government house in Rivers State having been appointed unconstitutionally.
“Even when I saw him taking oath of office, I was wondering which oath he was taking because he was taking an oath not known to the constitution, the constitution does not recognise an administrator.”
‘Political Solution needed’
Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria said that the problem in Rivers State is being cured with a wrong solution, likening it to one using a sledgehammer on his head because of headache.
According to him, the measure being taken to address the Rivers problem “are overreaching, extensive, undemocratic and above all, unconstitutional.”
He maintained that the problem in Rivers State is political and only a political solution will bring it to an end.
‘No constitutional gap’
There have been claims in some quarters that there was a gap in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution which President Tinubu used in taking the action in Rivers State, but the NBA president has refuted that, insisting that the Constitution is explicit enough.
“I do not believe that it (Section 305) is not explicit, I simply believe that we deliberately refuse to apply it the way it is,” Osigwe said.
The National Assembly has approved the declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State, but Osigwe does that believe that the lawmakers approval legitimized the President’s action.
He said that the National Assembly’s approval is like placing something on nothing.
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Aliyu Abdullahi, says contrary to fears expressed in some quarters, Nigeria is not close to being at risk of food scarcity.
He said that President Bola Tinubu understands the importance of food security which prompted him to declare a state of emergency just two months after he assumed office.
“Let me react to the headline I saw you talking about, risk of food scarcity. Nigeria is not at risk of food scarcity; it has not been and will never be by the grace of God,” Abdullahi said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday.
“What I want to say here is that when you say scarcity, it means that it is not even available. Nigeria has not suffered from that but what has happened is that there are dynamics, the economics behind food goes beyond just the immediate sector, there are macro-economic issues.”
He said that in addition to the food silos managed by the Federal Government, several states have adopted the buffer stock strategy and have stocked food as their buffer, which further improves food security.
The Minister argued against the narrative that Nigeria is not food-sufficient, insisting that as long as one can go to market and find all types of food there should be no need for alarm.
‘Nigeria Meeting Rice Production Demand’
According to the minister, Nigeria has gone far in meeting its demand for rice production. adding that the country’s rice production is sufficient, but the taste buds of Nigerians still crave imported ones.
“We have gone really far in meeting demand for rice production in this country. The local rice we produce is sufficient, what has happened is our taste buds have a preference for imported ones,” he said.
Abdullahi assured Nigerians that President Tinubu is determined to reverse food inflation which has been on the high side recently and stabilise it to a point where every Nigerian can eat whatever kind of food they want.
kaludestiny10: He already fired a shot indirectly by saying that he is not a Nebuchadnezzar. We all know who he was referring to and he is very correct with that statement.
All these other ones that are bent on ruining the peace in the state all because of their ogogoro master in Abuja will surely see what they are looking for
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that Rivers people are enjoying an era of peace and freedom to undertake their endeavours without molestation or anxiety to trigger hypertension.
The Governor also said there is an increased level of openness to governance that makes his administration well-disposed to suggestions that help in making amends where necessary because it is a democracy.
Governor Fubara spoke during a courtesy visit by a delegation of Anglican Archbishops and their wives led by the Primate, Archbishop Metropolitan of All Nigeria, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Rev Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday evening.
The Governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, stated that his administration understands that God is supreme and nothing happens without His approval, thanking the church for standing with his administration in prayers, which has continued to provide strength to keep the course of governance focused.
He added, “It is not the noise that we are making, not the protests, but it is those quiet prayers, and fasting that you are doing for us. And you are seeing the result of it, with what we are doing in the state.
“The kind of governance we are giving. Not governance of hypertension but governance of peace. Governance that gives people freedom to operate, governance that listens and admits. Where we are faulting, we say yes, we are faulting, and we make amends. It is only your prayers that are giving us the direction and wisdom.”
Governor Fubara assured that seeing such divine help, his administration will not deviate from the fear of God in order not to lead the government into destruction.
The Governor recalled how the leadership of the Anglican Church made several efforts to mediate in the political crisis in the State because they had considered that since the dramatis personae were all faithful, it will be much easier to broker peace.
Governor Fubara, who regretted that the efforts of the top echelon of clergy were rebuffed, said maybe God designed it to be so that he could enjoy the current level of freedom to offer purposeful governance to the State.
Speaking on their chosen theme, “The Bond of Peace: The Call of the Life and the Ministry of the Church”, Governor Fubara said peace remains the most valuable virtue to strive for because even Jesus Christ knew its importance, and bequeathed it to His disciplines at the point of His ascension to Heaven.
He stressed, “It is the only thing that is needed not just for our State, but for this country going by what we are seeing, read in the papers, experience in the market, encounter in the road, and how we even manage our families to be parents. What we really need is peace so that everything will become normal.”
In his address, Primate, Archbishop Metropolitan of All Nigeria, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Henry Chukwudum Ndukuba, said Archbishops are in Rivers State for the Standing Committee Meeting of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, which holds twice every year; in February and in September.
Most Rev. Ndukuba stated that for this Standing Committee, they chose the theme, “The Bond of Peace: The Call of the Life and the Ministry of the Church”, taken from Ephesians 4 verse 3, adding that they will make crucial decisions as they depend on God to build people of faith among themselves.
He said: “The Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has about 170 Bishops and over 165 Dioceses with membership of over 20million Nigerians.
“Our ministry covers both within and outside of Nigeria, having missions across the world, including United States of America and Canada, and also UK and European missions and Golf States. We have missionaries across Africa.”
Most Rev. Ndukuba expressed gratitude to God for divinely ordaining Governor Fubara to govern Rivers State and equipping him to lead with the fear of God and steadied governance despite the political upheavals.
He said, “Leadership is a sacred trust from God Almighty, and as God’s people, the Scripture enjoins us to pray for those in authority. We are here to assure you of our prayers and to appreciate what God is doing through you.
“In spite of the challenges that you are facing, we thank God that you have kept focused, and you are executing the things that you need to do as the Executive Governor of this State.
“We want to thank you for creating enabling environment to enable businesses thrive, adding that different religions will have the freedom to practice their faith, both Christianity and the other religions.”
Most Rev. Ndukuba stated further: “But, particularly, we appreciate your support for the Christian Church, especially for the Anglican Church. And we thank God that you are a bonafide member of this church. We appreciate what you have allowed God to use you to do.”
Meanwhile, the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Archbishops’ Standing Committee Meeting (SCM), is slated to be declared open on Wednesday (today) at the St. Cyprain’s Anglican Church, in Old Port Harcourt Township by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Highlights of the visit were prayers by the Archbishops for the Governor and his Government, the State and the Nation; as well as presentation of souvenir gifts to the visitors.
The house of representatives has rescinded its decision on some of the components in the 2025 budget passed last week.
During plenary on Tuesday, the house amended the budget to “correct inadvertent errors” in the Appropriation Bill.
The decision followed a motion moved by Francis Waive, chairman of the house committee on rules and business.
“At the point of cleaning and re-alignments, the joint committee on appropriations discovered some inadvertent errors in items passed by the house of representatives and senate,” Waive said.
The house subsequently amended the budget and passed it for a third reading.
The senate also did the same for the Appropriation Bill.
A breakdown reveals that capital expenditure was reduced by N524 billion, while recurrent expenditure increased by the same amount.
Last Thursday, the national assembly passed the sum of N54.9 trillion as the budget for the 2025 fiscal year.
Out of the figure passed, N3.65 trillion was for statutory transfer, debt service was N14.32 trillion, N13.06 trillion was earmarked for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure was N23.96 trillion.
With the amendment, capital expenditure now stands at N23.44 trillion, while recurrent expenditure has increased to N13.59 trillion.
However, the budget size remains at N54,990,165,355,396.
Politics › Re: Tinubu Should Restore Fubara As Governor, Administrator Unconstitutional – NBA by italkdlonly(op): 8:17am On Mar 24, 2025
