Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has described remarks credited to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, where he allegedly linked the bombings in Rivers State to the Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as a hatchet job, outrageous, baseless and intended to shield the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, from blames.
Recall, following the suspension of Governor Fubara, his Deputy and Rivers Assembly members by President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, on Wednesday alleged that the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, teleguided militants to blow up pipelines in the state.
- Advertisement -
Fagbemi made the accusation while defending President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency.
Reacting, the opposition coalition in a statement by High Chief Peter Ameh and Comrade Mark Adebayo said it’s shameful to see an Attorney-General of the nation being biased and shielding the obvious culprit in the crisis.
The coalition flayed the assertion by the AGF, frowning that he didn’t blame Wike over his supporters alleged involvement in the bombing of local council headquarters, but turned around to accuse Fubara of an offence he never committed.
CUPP therefore called on President Tinubu to call his AGF to order, reiterating their decision to seek legal action to quash this latest assault on Nigeria Constitutional democracy that has great implications for the survival of democratic governance in Nigeria.
CUPP said, “The AGF, Fagbemi’s decision to declare Wike innocent and indict a Governor who is at the receiving end of pro Wike actions is a shameful desecration of the office of the AGF.
“Where was the AGF when Wike supporters and former LGA chairmen forcefully went to take over the council which led to burning and bombing of the council? Why did the AG not include Wike in the blame, why did the AGF not condemn it?
“Where was the AGF when Wike supporters went on a protest during which one of the protesters carrying a bomb mistakenly denoted it which cut off his hands? What did the AGF say and why did he not mention it?
When the House of Assembly refused to receive the budget, what did he say?”
CUPP said, soon after the peace meeting was held with Mr President, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, provoked the air, through a media chat, where he abused and threatened individuals, communities, and ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta. Central to that abuse and tribal denigration was the Ijaw Nation and PANDEF.
The coalition of political parties continued, “Beyond that, the minister went on to make several unprintable comments on individuals, including our revered late Chief Sen. Edwin Clark and several others.
“If there is any culprit who has inflamed the political atmosphere; to push it to this level, it is Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Hon. Minister of Federal Capital Territory.
“Let it be known by all Nigerians, there are three parties in this matter: Governor Siminialayi Fubara, the Rivers State House of Assembly members, and Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT.
“It was well circulated on electronic and social media that the explosions experienced in Gokana and Onelga had earlier been predicted by Chief Barr Wike on his media chat. He was quoted as saying:
What nonsense is that? Who told you Ogoni people cannot break pipelines? Who told you Ikwerre people cannot blow up pipelines? Who told you Ekpeye people cannot blow up pipelines?”
It explained that the above statements were set up designed to create tension and disharmony; to create a perceived state of anarchy, and to make the President declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
This is as it added, “It is on record that Gov. Siminialayi Fubara made genuine efforts to present the budget as directed within the specified period.
“He wrote to the House through his SSG, but it was rejected. He went to the House of Assembly himself, only to be locked out by the lawmakers.
“Following this development, the Governor formally notified the Assembly of his intention to present the budget on March 19, 2025, or any other date convenient to the House within that month.
“Despite all these efforts, the lawmakers failed to respond. Instead, they adjourned plenary indefinitely, and resumed on Monday, only to serve an impeachment notice on the Governor and Deputy Governor.
These actions were clearly intended to prevent the Governor from presenting the budget, as directed by the Supreme Court, and to provide a pretext for the President to impose a state of emergency as he has done now on Rivers State.”
CUPP therefore tasked President Tinubu to call his AGF to order, as it reiterated its decision to seek legal action to quash what it described as the latest assault on the country’s constitutional democracy, which it said has great implications on the survival of civil governance in Nigeria.
