A continental human rights group, African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR), has lauded the Rivers State governor Siminalayi Fubara’s resolve on the recent Supreme Court judgement which he gracious accepted to implement after carefully reviewing its Certified True Copy (CTC).
ACJHR, in a statement by its coordinator, commended the impressive statewide broadcast delivered by Governor Fubara on Sunday which proved the qualities of a statesman and matured leader committed to the rule of law as well as democratic principles.
The centre said by allowing the rule of law to prevail and starting implementation of the judgement of the apex court has distinguished the governor as the kind of leaders Nigeria needs at this stage of its democratic journey.
It said when the governor’s legal team finally obtained the CTC by Friday, March 7, 2025, the people of Rivers State and Nigerians entirely would be further intimated of the next positive steps of Fubura with regards to the judgement for the overall interest of the people he is leading as well as upholding the sanctity of the Constitution to which he had sworn to protect.
According to the centre, if all Nigerians leaders have the disposition of Fubara, the country would have been a better place where the law is supreme and not personal ambitions, idiosyncrasies as well egocentricism.
“The African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR) having listened and watched the state broadcast by the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, we elect to commend him for his statesmanship and commitment to legality which is uncommon amongst the ruling class.
“We stand with the Governor in this trying moment which brought out his leadership qualities of upholding Nigeria’s Constitution which he swore to protect despite outright provocation and frustration by assumed ‘powers that be’. His gentlemanly and statemanly disposition has earned him our respect and all men of conscience and goodwill.
“What would happen if other leaders were in his shoes can be best imagined! But, on the contrary, Fubara rather than desecrating the law and highest court in the land which many who are now celebrating the Supreme Court judgement would have done, he expressed commitment to implementing the judgement.
“Even before waiting for the CTC to be obtained on Friday, March 7, 2025, the governor has taken a step further by directing 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.
“The governor further directed the outgoing local government chairmen to formally hand over the levers of power to the Heads of Local Government Administration by Monday, 3rd March 2025.
“For those who may not be aware,
the Friday judgement of the apex court declared the Local Government election conducted in the state on October 5, 2024, as invalid.
“The Court equally barred the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Accountant General of the Federation and other agencies from releasing funds to the government of Rivers State.
“All these, the governor said although the State Government disagree with the judgements, it is bound to obey the orders made therein as a law-abiding government, adding that since inception, his administration conducted the affairs of government within the framework of the Constitution, due process and the rule of law,” the group stated.
