…Says suspension of Rivers Governor, Fubara in order
By Rotimi Ojomoyela
Ado-Ekiti—A Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and former lawmaker representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senator Ayo Arise has said that Vice President Kashim Shettima’s remark was not to vilify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu but to appreciate the former Attorney General, Mohammed Adoke, who saved him from being removed as the Governor of Borno State.
According to Arise, Tinubu followed due process before proclaiming state of emergency in Rivers, adding that he didn’t undermine the provisions of the Constitution before making the decision to restore peace in the state.
Arise explained that the two scenarios were completely different, stressing that the political tussle in Rivers would further escalate, if necessary actions were not taken to restore peace and harmony.
His words, “what the Vice President did was to go and make a comment to say thank you for somebody who did him a favor because it was a favour”.
The lawmaker stated this on a popular TV station while reacting to the comments of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who appreciated former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke for saving him from being removed as Governor of Borno State by former President Goodluck Jonathan over escalation of insurgency.
Shettima, had at the book launch in Abuja, authored by Adoke, titled, “OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 billion Nigerian Oil Block”, claimed that the ex-AGF had told Jonathan that he had no power to remove a sitting Governor, raising speculation that the Vice President was indirectly condemning Tinubu for suspending Fubara.
He noted that Shettima’s remark was not to vilify President Tinubu but to appreciate Adoke who saved him from being removed as the Governor of Borno State.
His words, “I believe, what the Vice President did was to go and make a comment to say thank you for somebody who did him a favor because it was a favour.
“There’s no way Boko Haram could have taken almost 14 local governments and a President will sit down and say a state of emergency will not exist to save that governor from the invaders, the Boko Haram people.
“So I think the fact that Adoke suggested to mister president that he couldn’t remove him, which is neither here nor there, even though there’s no remover in the case of Fubara. We can see that progress being made significantly towards, reabsorbing Fubara to his seat.
“And the fact that that governor and his erstwhile predecessor in office were at loggerheads, I think the best thing that happened was that the president took leadership and before things broke down beyond repairs, He had this state of emergency proclamation and I believe by and large, he followed the procedure.
“So many things in our constitution and even the constitution of America where we copied from, they are not explicitly written and they are not perfect by any means. This reminds us of the doctrine of necessity.
“When in our constitution, it was mandatory for the president to transmit to the VP and not considering the fact that the president could have a heart attack and it could be incapacitated.
“Now a president sitting down and all of a sudden, you’re hearing that the fuel stations are being bombed, pipelines are being bombed. Should you wait for two or three days until Nigeria is no longer able actually to have a source of revenue before taking this action?
“I believe that action was taken appropriately and the procedure was followed thereafter. So for those people saying that the president does not have the powers to remove a Governor, I think it’s a no.
“The outcome would have been very different. So Adoke didn’t do Nigeria any favor or any governor any favor because if I were the president and I saw danger facing the governor and the people of the state, I would have removed the governor and put a military person there to face these people.
“And I believe the intention was not to vilify the president or to say that the president doesn’t have the powers, the two scenarios are completely different”
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