Understanding The Suspension Of Rivers State Governor: A Closer Look

Clarifying the Presidency's Position on Governor Siminalayi Fubara's Suspension

Let me break this down for you in a way that feels a little less like legalese and a lot more like a conversation. The Presidency has come forward to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu didn’t outright remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State or his deputy, Ngozi Odu. Instead, he suspended them temporarily. This clarification was made by Olusegun Dada, the Special Assistant to Tinubu on Social Media, during a reaction to comments made by former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi.

Why Did This Suspension Happen?

Now, let’s dive into the backstory here. Peter Obi made some pretty bold statements at the birthday colloquium of former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha. He criticized the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Tinubu, arguing that democracy under the current administration has faltered. But here’s the thing: democracy didn’t collapse under Tinubu. It was already in trouble before he stepped in. Let’s explore why.

The Presidency's Response to Peter Obi's Criticism

Dada wasn’t shy about calling Peter Obi a hypocrite and dangerously mischievous. He pointed out that Peter Obi was crediting former President Obasanjo as the foundation layer of democracy, which, in Dada's view, was misguided. According to Dada, democracy in Rivers State had already collapsed when Governor Fubara created an illegal 4-man state assembly and his private Speaker, and later demolished the parliament building unilaterally. That's not exactly how democracy is supposed to work, right?

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What Did President Tinubu Actually Do?

Here’s the deal: President Tinubu didn’t remove or impeach any elected official. He used his constitutional power under Section 305 to declare a State of Emergency in Rivers State. The purpose of this declaration was to address the root cause of the political crisis and restore normalcy. This had to be approved by the National Assembly (NASS). Both Governor Fubara and the State Assembly were key players in creating the emergency situation, which is why their temporary suspension was necessary. Let me put it this way: Fubara is still the governor, but he’s not currently exercising executive powers. Same goes for the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Why Did Tinubu Step In?

President Tinubu wasn’t trying to destroy democracy—he was trying to save it. When Fubara unilaterally demolished the parliament building and governed without a parliament for 14 months, that’s when democracy really started to unravel. Where were Peter Obi and the so-called defenders of democracy during that time? They were silent. Imagine a governor spending public funds for over a year without proper appropriation. That’s not democracy—that’s dictatorship. And Tinubu stepped in to stop it.

Obasanjo and Peter Obi's History

Now, let’s talk about Peter Obi’s praise for Obasanjo. It’s laughable, to be honest. Under Obasanjo, the 2003 election that APGA won was stolen by the PDP through Obasanjo’s aide, who was operating from Aso Villa. Peter Obi only managed to reclaim his mandate when the same aide who stole it fell out with their godson and decided to team up with Obi to reclaim it through the courts. And let’s not forget—Obasanjo’s aides plotted Obi’s impeachment in 2006. So, crediting Obasanjo for saving him from impeachment is a stretch, to say the least.

Peter Obi's Own Track Record

Before we give Peter Obi a medal for defending democracy, let’s remember his own track record as governor of Anambra State. For 7 years and 10 months, he used Sole Administrators—not recognized in the constitution—to run the 21 LGAs in Anambra State. These LGAs had no Legislative Council, which is a key component of democratic governance, and they didn’t receive any FAAC allocation directly. Obi essentially colonized the entire system. If that’s not collapsing democracy, I don’t know what is.

Final Thoughts

Peter Obi might want to rethink his stance on democracy. If he truly cares about it, he should focus on the facts rather than creating narratives that don’t hold up under scrutiny. As Dada put it, Peter Obi needs a Doctorate Degree in Hypocritical Science. This situation in Rivers State is complex, but one thing is clear: President Tinubu stepped in to restore order and protect the democratic process, not to dismantle it.