Awaji-Inombek Abiante, the representative for Andoni/Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in Rivers State at the House of Representatives, has called on President Bola Tinubu to reinstate Governor Siminalayi Fubara before the six-month emergency rule period expires.
Abiante also urged the president to engage the National Peace Committee, chaired by former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, to mediate between the conflicting parties in Rivers State and work toward achieving peace.
The lawmaker made these remarks on the Sunday edition of Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a socio-political program broadcast on Channels Television.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months. Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas as the sole administrator for the duration of the emergency.
The president justified his decision by citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, stating that he could no longer stand by as the political crisis in Rivers State escalated. His decision received support from the National Assembly through a controversial voice vote, which has faced significant criticism.
The suspension of Fubara and other elected officials has been widely condemned by several prominent Nigerians, legal experts, and groups, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, Femi Falana, the Labour Party (LP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), among others.
Abiante pointed out inconsistencies in the actions of the National Assembly, noting that provisions were not made to allow lawmakers to vote “yes,” “no,” or abstain during the vote. He also disputed the president’s claims that Fubara had failed to rebuild the demolished Rivers State House of Assembly chambers, referencing the new sole administrator’s visit to the site of the ongoing construction that Fubara had initiated.
Furthermore, Abiante questioned the accuracy of the intelligence that led to the emergency declaration, suggesting that it may have been manipulated.
“The intelligence that was relied upon could have been rigged,” he said, raising concerns about the potential for falsifying information. “If intelligence can be rigged for the president, what does that say about our nation’s security?”
Abiante proposed that the peace committee, led by Abdulsalami, should intervene in the state’s political turmoil. The committee includes respected figures such as Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III.
He added, “If anyone is capable of leading such an effort, it is Abdulsalami. He has a track record of not extending his stay in power when he had the chance. Let’s see if the warring parties would be willing to engage in meaningful discussions.”
Abiante also emphasized that allowing the crisis to continue for six months would deepen divisions and risk pitting Nigerians against each other. He stressed that Rivers State’s significant contribution to Nigeria’s economy should not be overlooked.
“Mr. President should also remember that Rivers State helped secure votes for him during the elections. One individual cannot claim responsibility for the entire electoral process,” he noted.
In a broader political context, Baba Yusuf, a policy advisor, criticized the federal lawmakers, particularly from opposition parties, for failing to challenge the emergency rule. He argued that the rights of the people to elect their representatives had been suspended by the presidential decree.
Yusuf blamed the National Assembly, especially the opposition, for not standing up to the president’s actions, stating that the legislature, which is vital for a functioning democracy, had failed the people.
Social commentator Dayo Akintobi echoed Yusuf’s sentiments, stating that the opposition’s voice had been silenced during the proceedings. He argued that the framers of Nigeria’s Constitution never intended for the president to have the power to undermine democratic processes and suspend a sitting governor, calling the move an overreach of executive authority.
