Taiwo Popoola
Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam has called on the embattled Governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara to challenge his suspension in the court of law.
Idam insisted that Fubara enjoys the same sovereignty as President Bola Tinubu, hence, he should challenge his suspension in court.
Tinubu had suspended Fubara for six months while declaring a state of emergency in the state and appointing a Sole Administrator.
The president also suspended the state’s deputy governor and members of the state House of Assembly.
Fubara was suspended following the political crisis between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The crisis had affected the legislature in the state while snowballing into Niger Delta militants threatening to blow up oil installations in the state.
But, a few days ago, there were reports of Fubara meeting with Tinubu in London.
Reacting, Idam said Fubara should stop begging to remain in office and challenge the infraction legally.
In a statement he signed, Idam said: “The news is that the deposed Governor of Rivers State visited the president pleading to be returned. While many have applauded him for making a good move, I beg to differ.
“My Reason: A sitting governor enjoys equal sovereignty as the president in Nigeria. His tenure is not tied to the mood of the president and cannot be deposed like a deviant traditional ruler if the president is provoked by him.
“While the Governor has cowardly refused to challenge the obvious infraction against his office in court out of fear of been visited with stiffer punishment, I think it is undercutting to the governor’s office to see him Nicodemusly crawled on his bended knees to the president, begging to be returned like a child whose feeding bottle was taken away from him.
“The Governor should either continue in his silence or approach the court to challenge the anomaly. It does not matter if he loses.
“It has to be on record that an action was taken in defence of the office of the governor to prevent future occurrences.
“Nobody takes a mediocre seriously. That Wike is who he is today is because he is not a pushover. Fubara has to challenge his removal and stop begging or waiting for others to defend the office for him.”
