The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has lambasted President Bola Tinubu for suspending Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy Ngozi Odu as well as the members of the state assembly.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the forum led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed described the action of the president as unstatesmanly, biased, and divisive.
The forum also expressed concern that under Mr Tinubu’s leadership, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has become a law unto himself.
The forum also criticised the president’s silence regarding the minister’s active involvement in the state crisis, describing it as both passive and enabling.
The statement read: “The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum notes with grave concern and utter misgiving the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast of Tuesday, 18th March, 2025.
“We stand in solidarity with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and the good people of Rivers State at this very difficult and trying moment of the state’s political history. There is no other time that our philosophy of touch one touch all more apt than now.
“He who goes to the court of equity must go with clean hands. Mr. President, your silence on the active role played by your Minister of the FCT in the Rivers impasse is golden and enabling. He has become a law unto himself because he was playing out your script. Now we know. This is totally unstatemanly, biased, and divisive.
“We state categorically that this unwarranted but premeditated attack on Rivers State and the Peoples Democratic Party and other opposition parties is today the greatest threat to democracy in our dear country, Nigeria, and it is an ill wind that will blow no one any good.
“It is a dangerous course of action that will not only endanger our hard-won democracy but will also exacerbate the crises in the nation, deepen mistrust, elevate security threats, destroy the economy, and our national cohesion and stability.”
While aligning itself with the position of the Nigerian Bar Association, the forum called on the president to heed wise advice and the voice of reason and reverse the declaration.
“The Nigerian Bar Association, in its response signed by its president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has already expressed grave concern about the purported suspension by the president of the governor of Rivers State, the deputy governor, and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“The NBA affirmed its commitment to upholding the Constitution, defending democratic governance, and ensuring that the rule of law prevails in Nigeria. In their words, ‘A state of emergency is an extraordinary measure that must be invoked strictly within constitutional limits. The removal of elected officials under the pretext of emergency rule is unconstitutional and unacceptable.’
“The Forum completely aligns itself with the NBA and promises to subject Section 305 [3] of the Constitution to judicial interpretation. This authoritarian shenanigan is unacceptable and cannot stand.
“Mr. President is therefore called upon to listen to wise counsel and the voice of reason, as well as accept that he made grievous mistakes and acted in haste, and reverse this atrocious and retrograde decision before it is too late.”
