A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has criticized Nigerians for their perceived inaction during the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the emergency rule in Rivers State.
Fubara resumed his official duties on Thursday following the end of the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.
Eze, speaking in Port Harcourt, described the suspension as a legal anomaly that occurred because the public did not intervene.
“Nigerians watched and did nothing allowing the illegalities in Rivers State to happen successfully,” he said, expressing concern that continued public apathy could undermine democracy in the country.
He characterized the suspension as a conflict between the Federal Government and an individual.
“The deafening silence of Governor Fubara on the matter is understandable as he is helpless, particularly given the fact that it is a fight by the federal government against an individual, the Governor, who has no control over any state apparatus, particularly the security architecture,” Eze said.
Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), also urged Governor Fubara to focus on governance and service delivery upon his return.
“The Governor upon his return must prioritise the development of the state, a top on his agenda which he has always pursued with zeal. Service to the people should be top on his to-do list because Rivers people still believe in the sincerity of his administration,” he said.
He further warned that agreements or decisions that do not serve the interest of the people should be carefully scrutinized.
“Any agreement that does not serve the interest of the people which the Governor was made to sign must be subject to the mandate to provide service and be accountable to the people,” he said.
Eze attributed blame for the period of suspended governance to both President Tinubu and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, asserting that “the sins that Tinubu and Wike have committed against Rivers State and her people are unforgivable.”
