Leaders, activists, and legal minds from Nigeria’s South-South region are urging President Bola Tinubu to immediately reinstate Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, who was controversially suspended on March 18. They argue that waiting until the six-month emergency rule expires in September is unnecessary and harmful to democracy, especially since the conflict between Fubara and his political godfather, Nyesom Wike, has reportedly been resolved.
Many critics, including Elder Joseph Ambakederimo and Professor Benjamin Okaba, describe the suspension and the declaration of a state of emergency as unconstitutional. They believe the situation in Rivers State is now peaceful and stable, making the continued emergency rule unjustified. According to them, the suspension appears to serve political interests rather than addressing genuine security concerns.
Legal experts and civil society groups also criticize the silence of key institutions like the National Assembly and the Supreme Court. They stress that democracy must be upheld through legal channels, not backroom political reconciliations. Eric Omare and Alaowei Cleric argue that bypassing the judiciary and imposing executive decisions erodes democratic values and reduces states to pawns of the federal government.
Activists like Blessing Adima warn that the longer Governor Fubara is kept out of office, the more distrust grows among Rivers people. They call on President Tinubu to act swiftly, uphold constitutional order, and allow the people’s elected governor to resume office. They believe that failing to do so reflects poorly on Nigeria’s democracy and may trigger further discontent in the region.
