By Tonia Okereke
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi has said the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminilayi Fubara is to blame for the state of emergency declared in his state by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday’
The President has sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
Faggemi who addressed State House Correspondents on Wednesday absolved the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike of blame when asked if the actions taken by President Tinubu on the political crisis is not one-sided.
He said: “About the playbook of the Honourable Minister of Federal Capital Territory. You see, there are occasions especially when it comes to national issues, we have to come out plainly and sincerely. Where do you put the Minister of FCT in this case? Was he the one who asked for the demolition of the House of Assembly? Was he the one who said the governor should not present his budget to the House of Assembly? Was he the one who advised the governor not to go through the House of Assembly to ratify the commissioner-nominees? I don’t know. Because if you want to look at a case, you look at the facts presented.
“The Supreme Court made these critical findings. The FCT minister did not feature. Whatever the situation, assuming he featured, he would have featured, maybe on the side of the legislators. But you have is: let everybody go home for the first six months. So I don’t see his hands here in what we have”.
Fagbemi added: “Look, I will encourage you to read that judgment of the Supreme Court. There were about 11 of 12 findings against the governor. What sentiments are we bringing on this matter? There isn’t any sentiment. If the National Assembly feels that the President has not done well, then you won’t have the two-thirds majority required to validate his action. Certainly, you know it is like a situation in which they veto, veto usually is on the side or with Mr President when a bill is presented. But the converse is the same here: It is the President who is initiating a move: I want to declare a state of emergency. He has to make that move. He made that clear in his speech and broadcast yesterday that I’ve made this decision and referred the matter to the National Assembly. It is for the National Assembly to now say we veto. That is to say, we don’t give you approval. And since the National Assembly is still in session, we expect that within 48 hours, something will come out for it.
“So, whoever has any misgiving or concern, I will say, should channel it to the National Assembly to say, don’t give the required two-thirds approval. Otherwise, we should all, like I said, continue to put up our patriotism cap”.
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