The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has again called on President Bola Tinubu to return Governor Siminalayi Fubara to his position as the governor of Rivers State. The NBA insists that Fubara’s removal was unconstitutional and should be reversed immediate.

Last Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to ongoing political tensions. Along with this, he suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and all state lawmakers. In their place, Tinubu appointed retired naval officer Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator.

Many Nigerians, including the NBA, have criticized this move, saying the President does not have the power to remove elected officials. The NBA released a statement immediately after the announcement, rejecting the decision.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, NBA President Afam Osigwe reiterated that the constitution does not recognize a sole administrator. He emphasized that the rightful leader of Rivers State is Governor Fubara, who was elected by the people.

“That is our belief, that is what we expect the president to do, to restore him (Fubara) back to power having unconstitutionally removed him,” Osigwe said.

He questioned the legality of the oath taken by the newly appointed sole administrator, stating that such a role does not exist under Nigeria’s constitution.

Osigwe compared the approach to solving the crisis to using a sledgehammer to treat a headache, arguing that the solution is excessive and undemocratic. He stressed that the problem in Rivers State is political and requires a political resolution.

He also dismissed the idea that the National Assembly’s approval made Tinubu’s action valid, describing it as “placing something on nothing.”

With the NBA firmly rejecting the removal of Fubara, pressure is mounting on Tinubu to reverse his decision and restore the elected governor of Rivers State.