You can’t play God, Wike tells Fubara as gov pledges obedience to S’Court rulings

•Says judgment ends impunity, urges Rivers gov to abide by rules
• Fubara orders council leadership changes, calls for calm
• Timi Frank condemns judgment, warns of potential unrest

The political godfather of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, at the weekend, cautioned his estranged son, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, on why the latter shouldn’t act as though he were God.

In a statement that looked more like an ‘I-told-you-you-can’t win,’ Wike declared: “You can’t continue to play as if you are God. You must play by the rules.”

Wike’s words came as Fubara, yesterday, expressed his administration’s disagreement with the recent Supreme Court judgment that resolved the lingering political disputes in the state but affirmed his commitment to following the ruling as a law-abiding leader.

Fubara disclosed that his legal team is expecting certified true copies of the judgment by Friday, March 7, 2025. He assured the public that once the documents are received, his administration will study them thoroughly and implement their directives without hesitation to ensure progress in the state.

As part of measures to comply with the ruling, the governor directed the Heads of Local Government Administration to “immediately take over the administration of the 23 local government councils,” pending the conduct of fresh elections by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).

He further instructed outgoing local government chairmen to formally transfer power to the Heads of Local Government Administration by today, March 3, 2025. The directive, he explained, aligns with the outlawing of caretaker arrangements in the local government system in Nigeria.

The judgment nullified the local government elections in Rivers, reaffirmed a previous ruling that barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation from disbursing statutory allocations to the state, and validated the legitimacy of the Martin Amaewhule-led members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

Wike commended the Supreme Court for the judgment, declaring it a significant step in upholding the rule of law and ending impunity in the state.

In the statement issued by the Director of Press (Office of the Minister), Anthony Ogunleye, Wike expressed gratitude for the apex court’s role in resolving what he described as a prolonged legal impasse. He emphasised that the court’s judgment reasserted the essential role of a legislature in a democracy and delegitimised any government operating without a properly constituted assembly.

“The Supreme Court has made it clear that you cannot have a democracy without a legislature,” Wike said. “It is unheard of where anybody will say three people will constitute an assembly to make law for the entire State. What is important is that, can three people make law for a State, not to even talk of appropriation?”

Wike criticised Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s actions, which he claimed undermined democratic principles. He accused the governor of spending state funds without legislative approval, demolishing the House of Assembly building, and appointing commissioners without input from a recognised legislature.

“You spent money without appropriation. Who does that? One man will spend trillions of naira without the legislature approving it,” Wike said. “What can be considered an infraction more than that? You sat on your own spending state money without any legislative approval. It has never happened. Do you need anybody to tell you now that the Governor has committed an impeachable offence?”

The minister also condemned the demolition of the legislative building, stating that such an act disregarded the independence of the legislative arm of government. “A governor will go and bring down a house of the legislature, and we act as if nothing has happened,” he said. “You went on appeal, the Court of Appeal said this is wrong. We can’t continue with this.”

Wike stressed the importance of adhering to the rule of law, arguing that such adherence is essential for the country’s progress. He noted that the Supreme Court’s judgment effectively highlighted the collapse of governance in Rivers State due to the absence of a functional legislative arm.

The minister urged Fubara to respect the Supreme Court’s decision, work with the legitimate legislature, and present the state budget to the recognised House of Assembly. He warned against attempts to bypass constitutional processes, saying, “Democracy is for everybody. You can’t continue to play as if you are God. You must play by the rules.”

Wike added that the Supreme Court’s ruling serves as a lesson for those in power to govern within the framework of the law. “The Supreme Court has shown it today that we must allow things to be correct for this country to move forward. For this democracy to survive, things must be done very correctly, not you just bulldoze your way because you are a governor. Nobody is saying you shouldn’t exercise the power of a Governor, but it must be exercised constitutionally as the law provides.”

He called on Fubara to act in accordance with the court’s ruling, emphasising the importance of a functioning legislature in ensuring good governance. “Obey the Supreme Court judgment. Go and present your budget. The legislature means well for the people,” Wike said.

Wike also criticised those he described as “sycophants” and “judicial merchants” who offer false assurances to political leaders, urging them to embrace accountability and constitutional governance. “It’s not about you carrying sycophants, carrying judicial merchants who will tell you we have contact here. It doesn’t work that way,” he concluded.

HOWEVER, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, criticised the Supreme Court judgement ordering the withdrawal of monthly allocations to local governments in Rivers State, describing it as a “criminal usurpation” of resources meant for the people of Rivers.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, Frank called on Nigerians and the international community to hold President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, accountable for any unrest or anarchy that may arise from public dissatisfaction with what he termed a gross miscarriage of justice.

Frank stated, “From the illegal judgement which came out from the Supreme Court against the Rivers State Government, the whole world knows that this is the most fraudulent judgement ever delivered in the history of Nigeria. How can the Supreme Court give this kind of anti-truth, anti-God, inhuman, anti-justice, and compromised judgement that is obviously meant to give the opposition APC the leeway to take over Rivers State?”

The political activist, who also serves as the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, accused the judiciary of favouring the APC. He argued that the ruling was part of a larger plot to undermine the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Frank alleged that the suspended 27 lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, had lost their legitimacy. He described the court’s decision as an attempt to empower the lawmakers to destabilise the state.

“By giving an order to withhold the local government allocation to Rivers State, the court is seeking to weaken and undermine the Siminalayi Fubara administration while using the order to starve the people of Rivers State, who voted Fubara into power,” Frank said.

He criticised President Tinubu for allegedly failing to act against what he described as a judicial overreach, accusing the president of tacitly supporting efforts to destabilise democracy in Rivers State. “Tinubu sees nothing wrong with the affront on democracy in Rivers and, by extension, Nigeria, despite purportedly claiming to be a defender of democracy,” he said.

Frank also accused Tinubu’s administration of conspiring to take control of Rivers State by supporting the suspended lawmakers through judicial rulings. According to him, these moves are aimed at impeaching Governor Fubara and installing a government favourable to the APC.

He called on the people of Rivers State to remain steadfast in their support for Governor Fubara and resist any attempts to undermine the state’s sovereignty and resources. “We urge Rivers people not to give up the struggle but to stand strong and mobilise necessary support for Fubara, who is fighting to save Rivers’ commonwealth and defend the nation’s constitution,” Frank added.

MEANWHILE, in a statewide broadcast from Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Fubara emphasised his administration’s respect for the rule of law and constitutional governance. He acknowledged that mistakes could occur but insisted that his government has not deliberately violated constitutional principles.

“Since inception, we have conducted the affairs of government within the framework of our Constitution, due process, and the rule of law,” he said.

The governor noted that the Supreme Court’s pronouncements have ushered the state into a challenging period. However, he urged citizens and residents to remain calm and continue their daily activities peacefully while the government focuses on advancing good governance.

Addressing the judgments, he said: “We are all aware of the recent Supreme Court judgments and pronouncements regarding aspects of the lingering political disputes in our dear State. Although we disagree with the judgments, we are bound to obey the orders made therein as a law-abiding government.”

He called on the public to remain patient and cooperative during this period, saying: “Although our dear State seems to be back in trying times, I urge everyone to remain calm and peacefully go about their legitimate daily activities as we continue to do everything in our power to advance our responsibilities to the citizens.”