Lifting Governor Fubara’s suspension ‘not worth celebrating’ — Atiku tells Tinubu

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to lift the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, describing the move as “nothing to cheer about.”

On March 18, Tinubu declared emergency rule in Rivers State in response to a prolonged political crisis. As part of the emergency measures, Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the lawmakers were suspended for an initial period of six months.

On Wednesday, Tinubu ended the emergency rule and directed the suspended officials to resume duties on Thursday, September 18.

Reacting in a post on X (formerly Twitter), Atiku condemned the initial suspension, calling it unconstitutional.

“Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about.
The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today,” he wrote.

The former vice-president further accused Tinubu of exceeding his constitutional authority:

“President Tinubu had no power to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration.”