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| Satguru Marahaj Ji |
It would be recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu foisted a state of emergency on the oil-rich Rivers on March 18, 2025, by suspended democratic governance in the state and sent Governor Simi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Odu, and the 32-member legislature for an initial six months period, following a protracted political impasse between Chief Nyesom Wike, the minister, Federal Capital Territory and the Governor of the State.
To avoid a vacuum, the president appointed Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ekwe Ibas, Rtd, a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the sole administrator of the state.
But on Thursday, 10 July, 2025, Shettima, at a book launch in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, seemingly declared that the president did not have the constitutional authority to suspend a Councillor, not to talk of a sitting state governor.
According to a statement by Maharaj Ji, he reiterated that as the Vice President to Tinubu, he ought to be defending whatever his boss, President Tinubu says but because of the ethnic mentality “pay the Southerner money and control their attitude” that has always been the thinking of the Northern leaders who believed Presidency is their sole right, has been going against him in recent times.
According to One Love Family founder, the President hinged his decision on Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, saying he could not continue to watch the political situation in the state escalate without taking any measures.
He stated that the President had received security reports of disturbing incidents of vandalism of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them.
"Section 305 of the Nigerian constitution interprets a state of emergency as a situation of “national danger, disaster or terrorist attacks in which a government suspends normal constitutional procedures to regain control.
"A state of emergency allows the president to immediately make any desired regulations to secure public order and safety.
"The unfolding insecurity, he warned, if left unchecked, can precipitate anarchy and a collapse of law and order," Maharaj Ji said.
Speaking further, Maharaj ji posited that for President Tinubu to seal his move as required by the constitution, he had written separate letters to the upper and lower chambers, seeking approval for the imposition of his emergency rule in Rivers State.
"Tinubu’s decision comes amid escalating political chaos in the state involving Governor Fubara against his predecessor and current Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, as well as pro-Wike lawmakers.
"Tinubu stated in his broadcast that he is “greatly disturbed” by the political situation in Rivers State, adding that he has “watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.
"Tinubu also referenced the Fubara’s controversial demolition of the state House of Assembly in December 2023, which, according to Tinubu, had left the state without a functioning legislature for over 14 months," he added.
He stated; “I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis. I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.
"He noted that with the crisis persisting, the state has been “at a standstill” since the crisis started, with the people of the state not being able to have “access to the dividends of democracy.”
“A government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.”
"On February 28, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a judgement in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms:
Maharraj Ji defended the suspension, arguing, “Most people don’t understand what Tinubu did in Rivers State for peace. The Governor, deputy, and lawmakers are all suspended. So, there are no winners here before you start threatening Tinubu.”
"Tinubu actually saved Fubara from being uprooted by the 27 legislators of the sate through impeachment. If not for the timely intervention of Tinubu, Fubara would have kissed his Governorship good bye.
"Tinubu didn't remove Fubara. He only created a space to ease tension. Fubara openly appreciated such a kind gesture from Tinubu which has brought progress to Rivers. Obasanjo couldn't remove Tinubu despite all attacks by Obasanjo to distablize his government in Lagos, because Tinubu was and still an active politician who understands the plights of the people and the political terrain.
"Fiscal Federalism has started with the Tax Reforms already passed. Now population is not the main yardstick to measure Federal Government resource allocation but productivity.
"The devious games and criminal plans of Northern politicians against Nigeria's progress and existence are all known and it is on the basis of My unwavering Divine commitment to protect and salvage Nigeria from their satanic agenda, as co-scripted and approved by Britain and Saudi Arabia, both being their principal external cohorts, that I have allowed Nigeria to evolve in a way that appears to them as evidence of thier invincibility. Evolution as against revolution stands-out as the appropriate route to guide booty-trapped Nigeria through to its destined shore of grace and glory. The option of revolution plays straight into the Annihilation Plan of the Northern political oligarchy against Nigeria!
"As we enter the second half of the 1st tenure of 8years rule by the Grace of Maharaj Ji of President Bola Tinubu's administration, it is time to straighten up things for Nigerians to know that we cannot sit down and watch those touts, who are bent in destroying this God given President's administration," He maintained.
"The quest for a united and prosperous Nigeria is a patriotic strive that requires the hardwork of patriots. Public officers appointed or elected on the premise of religious sentiments cannot but be loyal to the parochial and troublesome sentiments that got them the offices they occupy. This has been a major weakness of our country's tasking evolution so far.
In the light of the above, it is highly imperative for Shettima to resign now due to his lack of faith in our President by global standards to enable the government operate at full capacity, because political chicanery and debauchery of any type at this crucial state of this great nation should not be allowed.
By the special Grace of Maharaj Ji, we would like to seize this golden opportunity to inform all the workers, students, academicians, legal experts to come to terms with the above explanation as enough to set us on the path of good governance for positive results now that we have a dedicated, devoted and experienced nationalist with global fervour grandeur and flavor attractive enough to set our economy to recover with the renewed Hope policy,"the ststement read in part.
