By NewsMata
Amid widespread outrage trailing the emergency rule imposed on Rivers State on Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN, says the ball is now in the court of the National Assembly to uphold or upturn the decision by denying it the required two-thirds majority.
Defending President Tinubu’s action at a press briefing on Wednesday, the AGF accused the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of complicity in the attack on oil installations in the state which necessitated the imposition of emergency rule, and sent a stern warning to state governments, cautioning them against actions that could undermine national security and stability.
The AGF argued that even if Governor Fubara did not directly order the attacks, his failure to denounce the militants’ threats made him complicit.
Fagbemi said, “We are in a democracy. The governor was seen telegraphing militants, suggesting he would let them know when to act. Even if that was misinterpreted, did he disown them? No. A week later, pipelines were vandalised”.
Emphasising the strategic importance of Nigeria’s oil sector, Fagbemi stressed that any attack on critical infrastructure is not just an assault on Rivers State but on the entire nation. Fagbemi posited that the Supreme Court’s judgement formed the legal basis for Tinubu’s declaration of emergency, adding, the decision was necessary to protect vital assets and restore governance in the state.
Defending the perceived hasty decision by the president, Fagbemi said “The governor and the state house of assembly members had to be suspended because they failed to ensure a conducive atmosphere for governance”, emphasising that the situation in Rivers demanded extraordinary measures.