The Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum has claimed that the presidential settlement on the Rivers State political crises is unfair and impracticable because it violates the rule of law.
The elders also stated that President Bola Tinubu lacks the authority to overturn the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction.
They criticized the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for his Christmas Day broadcast, claiming that the declaration, contrary to his belief, is essentially a death sentence.
The forum, chaired by former Rivers State Governor Chief Rufus Ada-George, issued the proclamation in two separate, strong-worded open letters dated December 24, 2023, written to the President and Fubara and read to reporters in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Among those who signed the open letters were Chief Rufus Ada George, Dr. Gabriel Toby, Ibim Princewill, Rear Adm. P. Fingesi (retd.), Emeritus Prof. Dagogo Fubara, HRH Iraron, Ede Obolo, Anabs Sara-Igbe, Senator Bennett Birabi, Ms. Annkio Briggs, Captain Nwankwo, and Prof. A.W. Obianime.
The elders who praised the President for responding to their plea to help resolve the political schism between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Fubara said, “However, as a people, we are now at a loss as to whether your intervention has helped in quelling the crisis or escalated it.
“For us, as custodians of the Rivers people’s conscience and morality, we find the directive resolution document lopsided and skewed in favor of the interest of your current minister, Nyesom Wike, to the detriment of the Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, the governance of the state, and the interest of the generality of the good people of Rivers State.”
According to the Rivers State elders, the composition and attendance at the presidential truce demonstrated a lack of balance between the two warring factions.
They claimed that the gathering did not include representatives from the group recognized by a court of competent jurisdiction, the elders of the state, traditional rulers, women, and youth leadership.
The letter reads, “Does the President have the powers to overrule the ruling of a court of competent jurisdiction when he is a product of the court himself?
“Central to this, Mr. President, is the sacred doctrine and practice of the separation of powers. May we inform Mr. President that the seats of the cross-carriage members have been declared vacant by the Speaker, known to law, Rt Hon. Ehie Edison, through an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court Port Harcourt division?
“We cannot but imagine how providing accommodation and meeting venues for legislative business becomes the duty of members of the House of Assembly who are directed to sit wherever they choose and not by the Executive Arm, as in the case of the National Assembly Complex, where Legislative Quarters are provided and maintained by the Executive Arm.
“Given the foregoing, it is obviously evident that Governor Siminialayi Fubara, the Chief Executive Officer of Rivers State, was coerced into submitting to your premeditated action plan even when it is well known that Mr. President does not possess such powers to give directives to a democratically elected governor or impose his will on the state government and the good people of Rivers State.
“As far as we are concerned, that meeting did not happen, and those directives are not implementable because to do so will be acting against the constitution and the rule of law.”
The elders, on the other hand, praised Fubara for his humility, as demonstrated in his Christmas Day message to the people of the state.
The forum, however, said, ‘However, we, the people of River State, do not see any peace in the so-called “Mr. President’s Peace Proclamation.”
In his Christmas Day broadcast, the governor stated that the decree was not as severe as it was represented because it was not a death sentence, and he promised to carry it out.
However, the forum criticized the governor, claiming that he lacks the constitutional authority to carry out the deal, which they call a “death sentence.”
The forum argued that the entire deal was done to benefit the FCT minister at the expense of the state’s incumbent governor and the people.
While praising the governor for his honesty and sincerity in embracing the President’s Peace Proclamation, the elders stated that the eight-point resolution has aroused diverse emotions from the state’s people.
The letter adds, “Peace can only be practiced in a germane, truthful, and just society. In this case, the environment in which the peace was broken showed no sensitivity to the people’s security or political or social interests.
“Mr. Governor Sir, you stated categorically that you are a principal participant in the entire saga, and the Presidential Peace Proclamation is not as bad as being portrayed by those genuinely opposed to it.
“That proclamation is actually a death sentence, as it breaches all legal and constitutional rights you swore to uphold.
“Mr. Governor, you also stated in your broadcast that the document offers a way and means of peace. Peace at what cost?
The elders informed the governor that he lacked constitutional or other legal authority to carry out the “Presidential Peace Proclamation.”
