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| Governor Mohammed and Fubara |
In a strong rebuke to President Bola Tinubu, the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) has condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, and suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara for six months, calling it a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
The forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, in a press release, expressed solidarity with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the people of Rivers State, labeling the suspension as “unwarranted” and “premeditated.”
They criticized Tinubu’s silence on the role of the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, in the crisis, describing it as “unstatemanly, biased, and divisive.”
The PDPGF urged Tinubu to reverse the decision to prevent further destabilization of the country.
Below is full text of the press statement:
“The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum ( PDPGF) 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.
“2. We stand in solidarity with His Excellency , 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” is more apt than now.
“3. 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.
“4. 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.
“5. 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.
“6. 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.
“7. Mr President is therefore called upon to listen to wise counsel and the voice of reason, as well as accept that he made grevious mistakes and acted in haste, and reverse this atrocious and retrograde decision before it is too late.
“Signed:
Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed CON Governor of Bauchi State/Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum.”
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