The Rivers Elders and Leaders Forum has declared that the presidential resolution on the political crisis in Rivers State is lopsided and not implementable because it is against the rule of law.
The elders added that President Bola Tinubu does not have the powers to overrule the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction.
They faulted the Christmas Day broadcast by the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, saying the proclamation, contrary to his view, is actually a death sentence.
The forum led by former Rivers State Governor, Chief Rufus Ada-George, made the declaration in two separate strong-worded open letters dated December 24, 2023, addressed to President and Fubara and read to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
The open letters were signed by 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, Prof. A.W. Obianime, Prof. E. T. Bristol, and Chief Marcus Atata among others.
While commending the President for heeding their call to help mediate the political rift between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and Fubara, the elders 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 favour 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.”
The elders stated that the composition and attendance of the presidential truce showed lack of balance between the two warring factions.
They said the faction recognised by a court of competent jurisdiction, the elders of the state, traditional rulers, women and youth leadership, were not represented at the meeting.
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 carpeting 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 venue for legislative business becomes the duty of members of the House of Assembly who you directed to sit wherever they choose and not by the Executive Arm as in the case of the National Assembly Complex were 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.”
On the other hand, the elders lauded Fubara for his humility as shown in his Christmas Day speech to 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’.
Recall that the governor, in his Christmas Day broadcast, said the proclamation was not as bad as it was portrayed, as it was not a death sentence, and promised to implement it.
But the forum faulted the governor, saying he does not have the constitutional powers to implement the agreement which they describe as a ‘death sentence’
The forum insisted that the entirety of the agreement was done to favour the FCT minister at the peril of the incumbent governor and the people of the state.
While commending the governor on his honesty and sincerity in accepting the President’s Peace Proclamation, the elders said the eight-point resolution has elicited mixed reactions from the people of the state.
The letter reads, “Peace can only be practised in a germane, truthful and just society. In this case, the environment in which the peace was brokered showed no sensitivity to the people’s security, political and social interest.
“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 told the governor that he has no constitutional or any other legal power to implement the ‘Presidential Peace Proclamation.
