Supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara have expressed optimism regarding his potential recall and reinstatement. They believe that President Bola Tinubu is a proponent of democracy and is acting in the best interests of Rivers State.
This sentiment was shared during an Easter praise event organized by the Simplified Movement, which took place simultaneously across all 23 local councils in the state. The gatherings, characterized by singing, dancing, and communal prayers, served as both a spiritual observance and a time for reflection and motivation among the movement’s members.
Ovy Chukwuma, the suspended Commissioner for Education, drew a comparison between the resurrection narrative and the current political climate in the state, stating, “They attempted to bury us in Rivers State, but we are here to affirm that we are alive. Rivers State is vibrant. Rivers State stands with Fubara.”
Chukwuma underscored his faith in President Tinubu’s judgment, asserting that the president’s current actions would ultimately benefit the state and facilitate the governor’s return to office.
Despite facing difficulties, the movement’s supporters remain hopeful that Rivers State will soon return to a state of normalcy and political stability.
In a related development, Nigerian legislative lawyers, represented by the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), have petitioned the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to impose sanctions on President Bola Tinubu due to the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The lawyers are also calling for sanctions against the National Assembly leadership for their involvement in ratifying the emergency rule in the resource-rich state. In a letter dated April 17, 2025, ALDRAP has given President Tinubu a seven-day deadline to reveal the provisions of the state of emergency proclamation in Rivers State, which authorized the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), to appoint sole administrators for local government areas.
The attorneys warned of potential legal proceedings against the President should he disregard their request.
These lawyers, advocating for the annulment of the emergency rule declaration, are now petitioning the ECOWAS court to impose penalties on Tinubu and other pertinent Nigerian officials due to the interruption of democratic governance in Rivers.
