‘General’ Tinubu: Abati, Farotimi, Adeyanju, Sowore, Dan Bello, kick against suspension of Fubara 

Human rights activist, Dele Farotimi has queried the power of President Bola Tinbubu in relieving Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara from his duties.  

In a post on his X handle, Farotimi described Tinubu with the military title of ‘General,’ before urging citizens to weigh in on whether he has the power to suspend elected officials from office. 

He said: “The key question to ask is; does General Bola Adekunle Ahmed Tinubu have the power to suspend “elected” officials from office in the manner that he has done in Rivers State?” 

Tinubu suspended Fubara for six months along with his deputy and state lawmakers. He invoked section 305 of the constitution in making the pronouncement. But many lawyers have faulted his action, saying the section does not provide for the suspension of elected officials. 

In a post on his X handle, a satirist, Bello Galadanchi, popularly known as Dan Bello, said Tinubu’s suspension of Fubara is like a landlord divorcing his tenant’s wife. He said no law in Nigeria, even those during war times allow an elected president to sack other elected officials of government.  

Dan Bello argued that emergency rules are imposed when people’s lives are threatened, which he said isn’t the case in Rivers as schools and other public life have been moving on smoothly.  

He said if Tinubu is allowed to have his way with the emergency rule in Rivers, there’s no limit to what he could do in the North during the 2027 election. 

For Reuben Abati, an ace journalist and anchor of Arise News breakfast programme the Morning Show,  said Tinubu cannot arrogate to himself the power of making laws for Rivers State 

Abati said the President has violated the constitution by the suspension of Fubara. He said a courageous National Assembly ought to begin an impeachment process against him. He, however, doubted the courage of the lawmakers to make the decision. 

He said: “President Tinubu has appropriated to himself the powers to make laws for the Rivers State House of Assembly, which is an impeachable offence. I don’t know whether the National Assembly has the courage to either reject his proclamation or proceed with the issue of impeachment against him.”

For the presidential candidate of the  Africa Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, Tinubu’s action is hastening a revolution of the people. 

He said: “Tinubu is poised to inadvertently hasten the revolution, moving seamlessly from one error to another, until the populace rises in revolt!” 

Human rights lawyer,  Deji Adeyanju said the United States would be wondering if all was well with Tinubu going by the action of suspending elected officials in Rivers State.  

He said: “The Tinubu administration is giving military vibes. Is this not supposed to be a democracy? I think President Tinubu is continually been wrongly advised. Even the United States and others will be looking at him like what’s wrong with this guy!”