AFRICA

Aba Ejembi: Rivers State Crisis Has the Capacity to Degenerate Nigeria

Aba Ejembi, a lawyer and former FCT Liaison Officer of the Civil Liberties Organisation, has asserted that the escalating crisis, concerning the recent events in Rivers State, could lead the country into greater instability.

During an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Ejembi emphasised that understanding the situation in the Rivers State House of Assembly requires acknowledging its constitutional implications.

He noted, “What has happened in the Rivers State House of Assembly was never within the contemplation of the framers of the constitution.

“Whether this is right or wrong, it’s a matter that will be settled by the court ultimately.”
However, he expressed concern that the implications extend far beyond the judiciary.
“What we are up against is the entire edifice called Nigeria. We need to be careful and look at our history,” he cautioned.

The lawyer pointed to historical parallels, stating, “We are seeing a recap, a reenactment of what happened in the western region where the Action Group was empowered, the opposition party, and there was a division; there was a crisis, perhaps, instigated by the party in power, which was NPC.”

He warned that the current turmoil has the potential to escalate dramatically, stating, “What is happening in Rivers State has the capacity and propensity to degenerate this country into something else.”

Reflecting on the past, Ejembi warned, “I believe that what is happening in Rivers State must be handled in a manner that we do not go the way of what happened between 62, 64, 65, and eventually what led to the coup of January 15, 1966.” The fear is that unresolved tensions could lead to widespread discontent and unrest.

The immediate trigger for the uproar was a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, which ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to cease all monthly financial allocations to the Rivers State government. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the judgement, highlighting “constitutional somersault” and “aberration” in the budgetary process overseen by Governor Siminalayi Fubara since January. The judge expressed dismay that only four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were present when Fubara presented the 2024 budget, labelling it a “flagrant affront” to constitutional requirements.

Ejembi elaborated on the potential fallout, indicating that the people of Rivers State would bear the brunt of the financial sanctions if the revenue allocations were withheld. He urged leaders to prioritise unity over partisanship, stating, “If the edifice collapses, it’s not going to save anybody. It might include the presidency and could question the very basis of our federation.”

He called for immediate intervention, asserting, “The president must stand up; must rise to the occasion; must intervene. There is no time in any judicial process where you cannot resolve the matter amicably.”

Furthermore, he appealed to former presidents and heads of state to play a role in defusing the situation, insisting that this issue cannot be relegated to the personal conflict between Governor Fubara and former Governor Nyesom Wike.

Frances Ibiefo