The elders and leaders of Rivers State have penned an open letter cautioning Governor Siminalayi Fubara against enacting the resolution agreed upon during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja to settle the political unrest in the state.
In their letter, the Rivers elders criticized the resolution, deeming it as biased towards Fubara’s estranged political mentor and former governor, Nyesom Wike, and labeled it as “a death sentence.” Led by former Rivers State governor Chief Rufus Ada-George, the forum conveyed their stance through two separate open letters dated December 24, 2023. These letters were directed to President Tinubu and Governor Fubara, respectively, and were disclosed to the press in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
They explicitly stated that the resolution put forth by the presidency regarding the political turmoil in Rivers State was unjustly one-sided and incompatible with the principles of the rule of law, making it unenforceable.
They emphasized that Tinubu lacked the authority to overturn a ruling made by a legally qualified court, all the while criticizing Fubara’s Christmas Day address wherein he pledged to enforce the resolution.
Chief George, Dr. Gabriel Toby, Ibim Princewill, Rear Adm. P. Fingesi (retd.), Emeritus Prof. Dagogo Fubara, HRH Iraron, Ede Obolo, Anabs Sara-Igbe, Senator Bennett Birabi, Ms Annkio Briggs, Captain Nwankwo, Prof. A.W. Obianime, Prof. E. T. Bristol, High Chief Marcus Atata, Senator Wilson Ake, Dr. Silva Opusunju, Sen. Andrew Uchendu, Kalada Iruenabere, Atamuno Atamuno, Prof. N O Nyenke, and Godwin Abbey collectively signed these open letters.
“Mr. Governor, Sir, you stated categorically that you are a principal participant in the entire saga and the Presidential Peace Proclamation is not as bad as being portrayed by those genuinely opposed to it.
“That proclamation is actually a death sentence as it breaches all legal and constitutional rights you swore to uphold. Mr. Governor, you
also stated in your broadcast that the document offers a way and means of peace: Peace at what cost?” the elders queried.
“Does the President have the powers to overrule the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction when he is a product of the court himself?
“Central to this, Mr President, is the sacred doctrine and practice of the separation of powers. May we inform Mr President that the seats of the cross-carpeting members have been declared vacant by the Speaker, known to the law, Rt Hon Ehie Edison, through an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court Port Harcourt division.
“We cannot but imagine how providing accommodation and meeting venue for legislative business becomes the duty of members of the House of Assembly who you directed to seat wherever they choose and not by the Executive arm as in the case of the National Assembly Complex were Legislative Quarters are provided and maintained by the Executive arm.
“Given the foregoing, it is evident that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State, was coerced into submitting to your premeditated action plan even when it is well known that Mr President does not possess such powers to give directives to a democratically elected governor or impose his will on the state government and the good people of Rivers State.
“As far as we are concerned, that meeting did not happen, and those directives are not implementable because to do so will be acting against the constitution and the rule of law.”
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