Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a member representing Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in Rivers state at the House of Representatives, has asked President Bola Tinubu to restore Governor Siminalayi Fubara before the expiration of the six-month emergency rule period.
The lawmaker made this call during the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television.
Legit.ng recalls that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers state and also suspended Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly over the political crisis and instability in the oil-rich south south state.
His decision was backed by the National Assembly in a controversial voice vote that has been heavily faulted.
Did the govt rig intelligence? Lawmaker raises alarm
However, Abiante said there are a few gaps even in the actions of the National Assembly, saying provisions were not made for those who chose to vote a yes, a no or to abstain.
Buttressing his point, the lawmaker said some of the gaps in the president’s claims include that Fubara did not make efforts to rebuild the demolished chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“That is not correct,” he said, citing the visit of the new sole administrator inspecting the building under construction that Fubara started.
“There was this issue that pipelines were broken; there was an explosion; it’s also on record that the pipeline is back to work,” Abiante said.
According to him, the intelligence the president relied upon to declare an emergency rule in Rivers might have been rigged.
“That is to tell us that it is either the intelligence that was relied upon may have been rigged. If in this country we could rig intelligence to the president, are we not in danger?” he asked.
Abiante also called on the president to engage the National Peace Committee headed by former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, to mediate with the warring parties in the oil-rich state and find a common ground for peace.
He suggested that the peace committee led by Abdulsalami should be called upon to intervene in the state’s political crisis.
The peace committee has eminent Nigerians including Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad III; amongst others as members.
He said:
“I can’t think of any other group of persons higher than that. If he had the opportunity as a military general to elongate his stay in power, he didn’t do it. Let us repopulate the committee with him taking the lead. Let us see if the parties involved would also refuse to subject themselves to the level of discussions.”
Fubara’s aide gives fresh update on suspended governor
Chukwudi disclosed that the suspended governor of Rivers state was safe and doing well contrary to social media reports.
