Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticized the lifting of the suspension on Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, cautioning that it should not be seen as a cause for celebration.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had declared emergency rule in Rivers State on March 18, 2025, suspending the governor, deputy, and lawmakers amid months of political unrest.
The emergency rule ended on Wednesday, with Tinubu directing Fubara and the lawmakers to resume work on Thursday, September 18.
In a post on X, Abubakar described the initial suspension as unconstitutional and accused Tinubu of overstepping his authority.
“Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about,” he wrote.
“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. 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,” Abubakar added.
