Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has defended the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, stating that it was a necessary compromise to prevent the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, Fagbemi explained that the move was intended to stabilize governance in the state amid heightened political tensions.
Fagbemi recalled that the Rivers State House of Assembly had initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara, which, if completed, would have removed him and his deputy from office.
“Don’t forget there was a notice of impeachment from the House of Assembly. If that impeachment had been allowed to take its full course, then the governor would have lost entirely and completely,” the AGF stated.
He described the emergency rule as a necessary intervention to prevent a total breakdown of governance in the oil-rich state.
The AGF accused Governor Fubara of undermining the legislative arm of government by demolishing the House of Assembly building towards the end of 2023, an action he claimed disrupted legislative processes.
“They are the lawmakers. They are to consider the budget, pass it, and approve appointments of commissioners. Since that incident, things have not been the same,” he said.
According to Fagbemi, Fubara further complicated matters by recognizing only a faction of lawmakers and relocating them to Government House to conduct legislative functions.
The situation led to multiple court cases, with the Supreme Court making findings against the governor, stating that his actions were unconstitutional.
Beyond the political standoff, Fagbemi alleged that Governor Fubara’s actions emboldened militants, who later vandalized oil pipelines in the state. He accused the governor of failing to condemn the attacks, which posed a threat to the nation’s economic stability.
“Don’t also forget that when this government came into office, Nigeria was producing about 900,000 barrels of oil a day. Through the President’s efforts, production rose to about 1.5 million barrels per day. Then somebody became inactive when he was supposed to act,” Fagbemi said.
The AGF emphasized that Nigeria still depends largely on oil revenue and that any disruption in production affects all 36 states.
Fagbemi insisted that the emergency rule declaration was backed by legal precedent, citing the Supreme Court’s findings that governance in Rivers had become impossible due to Fubara’s actions.
“All the 36 states share from the proceeds of oil production. The inability of both the House of Assembly and the governor to create an enabling environment for governance was a key factor in the decision,” he said.
He further argued that waiting any longer before intervening could have resulted in a worsening security crisis.
The emergency rule declaration has sparked controversy, with critics, including opposition figures, questioning President Tinubu’s decision. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the move, insisting that the president lacks the constitutional power to suspend a sitting governor.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara has reportedly vacated the Government House, making way for the newly appointed sole administrator.
As the political crisis unfolds, all eyes remain on Rivers State, with stakeholders awaiting further developments on governance and security in the region.
