The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors’ Forum, has described as golden and enabling President Bola Tinubu’s silence on the role played by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike in the Rivers impasse.
In a statement signed by its Chairman and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, the Governors said it appeared the FCT minister had become a law unto himself because he was playing out the President’s script.
In his nationwide address yesterday, Tinubu did not in any paragraph of his statement mention the FCT minister, who has never denied being involved or being a key player in the political crisis.
Tinubu suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu and all elected officers of the State Assembly for a period of six months.
The Governors elected under the PDP’s umbrella, kicked against the move, particularly wondering why there was no mention of Wike.
They are of the opinion that Wike must have been playing the President’s script all the while.
“The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum ( PDPGF) notes with grave concern and utter misgiving the suspension of democratic rule in Rivers State by President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast of Tuesday, 18th March, 2025.
“We stand in solidarity with His Excellency , Governor Sir 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’ is 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 exacerbate the crises in the nation, deepen mistrust, elevate security threats, destroy the economy, and our national cohesion and stability.
“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in it’s 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 their 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,“ the statement read.