Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), has said the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers by President Tinubu, was a timely step intended to restore order in the state.
Fagbemi defended Tinubu’s decision during a press briefing on Wednesday.
Recall that Tinubu on Tuesday night, declared a state of emergency in Rivers over political crisis in the state.
The president also suspended Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state assembly and nominated Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the administrator of Rivers.
Fagbemi said, “The president has acted timeously. He has given opportunity to all the parties involved to make amends. Before then, he had tried to mediate.”
When asked about why Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), wasn’t punished for his role in the crisis, Fagbemi said he wasn’t, adding that supreme court ruling on the impasse didn’t implicate him.
He said, “Was Wike the one who asked for the demolition of the house of assembly? Was he the one who said the governor should not present his budget to the House of Assembly?”
“Was he the one who advised the governor not to go through the House of Assembly for purposes of ratifying the commissioner nominees? I don’t know.”
“Because if you want to look at a case, you look at the facts that have been presented. The Supreme Court made these critical findings. FCT minister did not feature.”
“Whatever the situation, assuming he featured, he would have featured, maybe on the side of the legislators. Yes, the legislators.”
“But what you have here is let everybody go home for the first six months. So, I don’t see his hand here.”
