…Says it’s unjust to punish Fubara who has no control over security agancies
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, has called for civil protest and resistance against President Bola Tinubu over the state of emergency he declared in Rivers State.
Amaechi who condemned the action of the President, said it was unjust to punish Governor Siminilayi Fubara for the explosion of pipelines when he had no control over security agancies.
The former Minister who spoke in an interview weekend, said that the President and not Fubara should take responsibility for the insecurity in Rivers.
Amaechi said: “Rivers governor has no security responsibility; it rests squarely on the president. So why punish a man who did not commit an offence,” he queried.
Amaechi called on Rivers residents to resist Tinubu’s decision through democratic protests, warning that the emergency rule undermines constitutional governance.
The former Transport Minister who further said the President’s action posed grave danger to democracy, argued that the President could likewise, “remove any Governor he doesn’t like any day.”
Amaechi alleged that the ongoing tussle in the state was a struggle over money sharing between Fubara and the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
According to him, the battle is for financial control rather than governance.
Amaechi wondered why people are not asking both parties some probing questions.
“The fight between the current governor of Rivers State and the FCT minister is about sharing money. If not, what’s the quarrel?”
“Nigerians don’t dislike corruption again. I’ve not seen anybody on the street querying what the problem is. Can both of them speak to the public and tell us what the problem is about?”
Amaechi said the suspension of Governor Fubara “sets a dangerous precedent where governors can be removed at will.”
“The president wants a power grab. They want to frighten governors who may not support them in 2027,” Amaechi said.
Amaechi said the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers had no justification, arguing that the level of insecurity in Northern states was higher, yet the President never imposed any emergency rule in those states.
“If the president said it is because of insecurity, because they blew the pipeline, what about parts of the country where there is insecurity? Is the president saying they should impose emergency rule on him too?”
