President Bola Tinubu has urged Niger Delta leaders to counsel Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara on the need to comply with court rulings regarding the ongoing crisis in the state.
The president made this call during a meeting on Tuesday with representatives of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at the presidential villa in Abuja.
Among the PANDEF leaders who attended the meeting were Obong Victor Attah, former governor of Akwa Ibom, and Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff, Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass Kingdom.
The discussion centered around the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, which has resulted in a divided political structure and tensions between Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Tinubu, recalling his earlier intervention in the crisis, highlighted his efforts to mediate a resolution between the warring parties. He noted, “Yes, Niger Delta is the goose that lays the golden egg. We must care for the goose; otherwise, we lose the golden egg,” and stressed that the region’s stability is crucial for the country’s prosperity.
The president further emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law, stating, “This is a nation governed by the rule of law. I should not be here as president without rule of law. I have total confidence in our judiciary.” He added that the courts’ rulings should be respected without question, saying, “We have expectations. Human beings can make errors. But once the court has spoken, that is it.”
Addressing the PANDEF leaders, Tinubu urged them to take action, saying, “Please go back home and help implement the court rulings within the shortest possible time. I am putting the ball in your court.” He called for both private and public interventions, encouraging the leaders to counsel Governor Fubara to “pursue the path of peace and stability.”
Tinubu further emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Go back home and take charge of peace. If you need me, let me know. I have given the situation enough time and enough consideration. We cannot fall back, and we will not. The people of Rivers state will not suffer because of democracy. We worked together on it. They will not suffer. They must be protected.”
The call for the implementation of the court rulings follows a February 28 Supreme Court decision that affirmed a Federal High Court judgment barring the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant-General of the Federation from releasing statutory monthly allocations to Rivers State. The apex court also ordered the Martin Amaewhule-led faction of the Rivers House of Assembly to resume sittings and nullified the October 5, 2024 local government elections in the state.
Governor Fubara has pledged to implement the Supreme Court’s rulings, though the situation in the state remains tense, with continued division within the state legislature.
