*Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Nigeria’s Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, affirms President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has ‘acted timeously’, by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, towards ensuring security of lives and property, as well enabling the people to enjoy dividends of democratic governance

Gbenga Kayode | 绿帽献妻

Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Honourable Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, has affirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Tuesday, March 18, 2025, acted timeously, by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria.

Fagbemi stated this in his opening remarks at a press conference held Wednesday, March 19, in the State House, Abuja, FCT.

Underscoring the rationale for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to have declared the emergency rule in Rivers State, Prince Fagbemi said the President “took the bull by the horns to do what was required of a statesman, patriot and Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

The Minister also recalled that the events in Rivers State started long ago, and Tinubu “tried to intervene many times.”

He noted: “Apart from that, well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thought, and concerned citizens have also attempted to settle the matter without any result.

“The President came out boldly yesterday (Tuesday) to say the situation cannot be allowed to continue, a situation in which the critical economic life of the nation, what is giving lifeline to the nation to be, you know, criminally touched without any response from those who would ordinarily be expected to do so, cannot continue.”

Implications of Supreme Court judgement on Rivers State

The Minister further explained that the whole scenario that played out till recently started or crystallised with the judgment of the Supreme Court handed down February 28, 2025.

The Supreme Court, that’s the highest court in the land, made a categorical pronouncement after making very profound findings of breaches of the Constitution by the parties involved, particularly the governor of Rivers State, concluded that he was acting like a despot and that, as the situation is in Rivers State, there is no Government. Fagbemi asserted: “These are very serious and very weighty allegations that only an irresponsible Head of State, or leader will fold his arms and ignore.

“As I said, he (Tinubu) made a very bold decision. We were all there when he addressed the public and chronicled all the facts from Genesis to Revelation.”

The judgment of the Supreme Court had been widely reported and published in the papers, stated he.

Possible 鈥榠nfluence鈥� on current state of affairs in Rivers?

Fagbemi categorically, said President Tinubu was not a party to the crisis in Rivers State.

He averred: “So, the question of trying to influence anything would not arise.

“And by virtue of certain provisions of the Constitution, everybody has a duty to ensure that the judgment of the court is obeyed, particularly coming from the highest court in the land; there is no other person to appeal to.”

As regards the seriousness of the Supreme Court judgement on the burning issue in the South-South state, the Minister said: “There is no other body to appeal to. It’s not subject to any further test of validity.

“As things are, we all have a duty, collectively and individually to ensure that we give maximum respect and obedience to the judgment of the Supreme Court.”

On imminent danger, security of lives and property in Rivers

Answering a question on when President Tinubu should have decided and acted on the state of anomie in Rivers State, Fagbemi stated: “I will ask rather rhetorically, when do you think he should have acted? When everything has collapsed?”

He averred: “No, the law envisages that you come in when there is imminent danger to the security of lives and property. People were killing themselves. “It’s no longer news. It’s not a question of making up the story. We all read papers every day. Those who live there are living in fear.”

The Attorney-General of the Federation, said “there is undoubtedly the need to come in.

“We have about two years into the administration in the state, if he didn’t come in now, when do you think he should come in? Is it when everything has been destroyed? I don’t think so.”

He declared: “The President has acted timeously. He had allowed all the people involved, the parties involved, to make amends; before then, he assembled them, he tried to mediate.

“Some said he had no constitutional power after agreeing. And what they agreed to at the meeting were not implemented.”

Fagbemi: Emergency rule, a tough decision for Mr. President to make

Prince Fagbemi stated: “I am certain that the President has acted timeously after giving them enough rope

“And as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, it was a tough decision for him to make.

According to him, declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State “doesn’t present anybody with joy, to disrupt the flow of democracy or practice of it.”

He, however, noted that the Nigerian Constitution itself envisages that there may be this type of situation, and that was why it is provided in section 305 of the Constitution that extraordinary situations might arise.

“This (Rivers) is one of such extraordinary situations,” stated he.

The Minister equally revealed how suspended Governor Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers State curried the favour of armed militants to disrupt peace in the state.

He said: “There was what I will call telegraphing of the militants, I will say, by the governor.

“And I said so when he beckoned to them that, oh, he will let them know when it was time to act,聽to the militant.”

Fagbemi noted: “Let us say it was wrong. Did he come out to disown them? The answer is no.

“And a week after, they swung into action; you see or witness the vandalisation of oil pipelines” in the state.

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