The Rivers State Elders Forum says last Thursday’s Supreme Court judgement that affirmed Sir Siminilayi Fubara as the Governor of the State has ended the era of strongmen in the State.
The forum, which addressed pressmen, yesterday, in Port Harcourt after an emergency meeting, said the court’s verdict would help protect strong democratic institutions.
Acting Chairman of the forum and former Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir. Gabriel Toby, who spoke to journalists, said it’s time for real governance as the apex court has ended electoral legal tussle.
He said,” We congratulate the governor and his deputy on their victory on various courts of laws and wish them God’s grace and guidance.
“We also wish to congratulate the Supreme Court for the verdict as it has calmed political nerves in the state and Niger Delta.”
The group said there is no victor nor vanquished as peace is germane for the development of Rivers State.
The body urged Fubara to govern with the fear of God and a large heart with the Constitution serving as his compass.
They commended the people of Rivers State for their calm disposition, advising the governor to deploy the resources at his disposal for the betterment of the state.
In the same vein, a member of the Elders Council, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, said the Supreme Court’s verdict had freed Fubara from the overbearing posture of his predecessor and estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike.
The group’s leader said, “The Rivers elders are very grateful to God for touching the mind of the Supreme Court to do what is right. They have saved Rivers State and they have saved Nigeria.
“We are also grateful because the right thing is done. We have nothing against Tonye Cole. He is our son. But as it stands today we don’t want Nyesom Wike to get third term. That is what Rivers people are fighting against.
“He has spent his constitutionally recommended two terms. He should not come through the backdoor to ask for a third term. And that matter has settled. But we know that the battle starts now. Why do I say so? Wike’s dogs must be removed. If we don’t remove those dogs, they will continue to harass and intimidate the governor.”
Talking about the suit filed by the group to challenge the pro-Wike lawmakers in the state House of Assembly, Sara-Igbe said, “They Assembly members are not legitimate Assembly members. They have decamped from the party that brought them to office contrary to Section 109, 1G and 2. And the court must define what the law says.
“We ask Mr President to intervene in the matter. But he never intervened in a manner as to bring peace. Rather he escalated the matter. And we are saying Mr President has no power to give directives, but he can make peace as the Chief Security Officer. So we want to define the powers of Mr President.
“We want the court to also define whether or not Mr President has the power to wave the constitution aside or wave judicial pronouncement aside. These are interpretations we need. So we are saying that the Assembly members must go first. Let the court interpret the law. We went to a court here (Port Harcourt), the judge, a hatchet man of Wike, the matter was not before him first. The matter was assigned to another judge. But surprisingly between Thursday and Friday night, the matter was moved to him. And he messed himself up by telling Nigerians and the National Judicial Council that he is not competent to be a judge. He struck out the case when the parties are not before him.
“Rivers State is owned by the citizens of Rivers State, and as elders we have come out to defend the people of Rivers State. So we are grateful to God for answering our first question, and they will answer our second question.”
The Rivers elders have sided with Fubara amid the political crisis between him and Wike. The group is opposed to the eight-point resolution, which Fubara signed at a reconciliatory meeting convened by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja in December.
The Tide also reports that the nation’s apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress challenging Fubara’s election.
The election tribunal and the Appeal Court had earlier struck out Cole’s suit for lack of merit.