By Iyiola Olalere
The Democratic Front (TDF) has praised the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminilaye Fubara, for publicly acknowledging that President Bola Tinubu was right in declaring a state of emergency on the state.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, TDF noted that the governor took a bold step by finally acknowledging that the President was right.
The statement read in part: ” We recall that we joined many Nigerians in commending President Bola Tinubu for declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State after the Supreme Court affirmed that there was no government in that state.
“In our statement at the time, we acknowledged the fact that the President’s action was not only intended to forestall the breakdown of law and order as envisaged by the Supreme Court but also to avert the impeachment of the governor by members of the State House of Assembly.
“Unfortunately, some opposition elements, in collaboration with beneficiaries of the lingering political crisis in the state, continued to attack the President through unfair comments and criticism based on falsehood even though he acted in the interest of the state and the nation.
“The unwarranted noise and malicious political innuendos that were unjustifiably hurled at President Tinubu for taking the right decision on the Rivers State crisis, have proven to be wrong, politically motivated and tantamount to crying more than the bereaved. The reality of Fubara’s recent statement has justifièd the state of emergency.
“In addition to vindicating the President, Fubara’s comment has revealed that the real enemies of peace and stability in Rivers State, are the elements in the opposition that joined the beneficiaries of the conflict in drumming public antagonism against the State of Emergency declaration by the President.
“We, therefore, call on the good people of Rivers State to join hands with the Sole Administrator Admiral Ibok-Eke Ibas (rtd), in his efforts to reinvent the peace, stability and unity of purpose that made Rivers a state many Nigerians were once proud of.
“Finally, we vehemently condemn the show of shame exhibited by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the whole saga.
As a body of legal practitioners in Nigeria, we expect the NBA and its leadership to be circumspect and err on the side of maintaining peace as well as advancing the constitution of the Federal Republic.
“Its attitude towards emergency declaration was unethical, but Governor Fubara has now proved the NBA wrong in its opposition to the Presidential proclamation.”
TDF also urged the NBA leadership to tender an apology to the Sole Administrator and the government of Rivers State.
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