Prominent lawyer urges Wike to end hostilities against Fubara

Renowned constitutional lawyer and scholar, Professor Itse Sagay, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to halt his political battles against Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara, warning that the ongoing crisis is crippling governance in the state.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Saturday Telegraph, Sagay criticized Wike for attempting to control Rivers State while serving as a minister, accusing him of trying to function as both governor and minister at the same time.

Governor Fubara and Wike have been locked in a fierce political feud, leading to deep divisions in the state’s governance structure. The crisis has split the Rivers State House of Assembly into factions, prompting the Supreme Court to intervene with key rulings aimed at restoring order.

In its judgment, the apex court ruled that:

1. Governor Fubara must recognize the 27 lawmakers led by Martin Amaewhule as the legitimate Rivers State House of Assembly members, as they had not defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as alleged.

2. The legislature must be reinstated to full authority, with the court condemning Fubara’s moves to sideline the House.

3. Fubara must present the 2024 and 2025 state budgets before the entire House for proper approval, nullifying his previous budget presentations to a small fraction of lawmakers.

4. The demolition of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex was unconstitutional and a violation of the separation of powers. The court ordered an end to such executive overreach.

5. The local council elections conducted on October 5, 2024, were invalid, and fresh elections must be held.

Following the ruling, Governor Fubara responded by sacking all local government chairmen and councillors elected in the disputed elections. He also reached out to the House of Assembly for a reconciliation meeting to move the state forward.

However, instead of a truce, the lawmakers have intensified pressure on Fubara, demanding his resignation or face impeachment. A few days ago, they even locked the Assembly gates to prevent him from presenting the contentious budget for legislative review.

Despite the Supreme Court ruling favoring Wike’s faction, Sagay argued that the ongoing power struggle is harming the state.

“I think it is high time we told Wike to allow the governor to breathe. Since the young man came to power, Wike has been breathing down on him and has refused to let him work,” Sagay stated.

He further noted that Wike himself was not subjected to such interference when he was governor, adding that the continuous crisis has severely hampered governance in Rivers State.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that the governor has not been performing optimally because of the distraction this crisis has caused him. There is a need for all the gladiators to apply the brakes and allow peace to reign in the interest of the people of the state.

“If you ask me, Wike must understand that he cannot be both a minister and the governor of Rivers State at the same time,” he added.

On concerns that the reported absence of the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, could prevent Fubara’s impeachment, Sagay dismissed such claims.

“Whenever a substantive Chief Judge is away, the law allows for someone within the system to act in that capacity. So, if that is the case, the acting Chief Judge can take up the full responsibilities of the substantive Chief Judge,” he explained.

As the crisis deepens, many political observers are calling for an urgent resolution to prevent further instability in the oil-rich state.