Civil rights group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the suspended Rivers state governor Mr. Siminilayi Fubara not to submit to the authority of the military administrator by responding to a summons purportedly issued by the sole administrator to take place on Good Friday which is a national public Holiday already declared by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Arguing that the suspension from office of the executive governor of Rivers state is already a key matter of determination in a litigation instituted against the Rivers state emergency rule by eleven Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party before the nation’s highest court of law, the group dismissed the position and modus operandi of the sole administrator, saying has no respect for the Nigerian court system and operates like he is presiding over a Banana Republic.
HURIWA, in a statement endorsed by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and made available to Boldmedia, recalled that a section of the media revealed that the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has summoned suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Dr Ngozi Ordu, to appear before him at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
This was contained in a special announcement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika.
Worika disclosed that the summons forms part of an official inquiry into appointments made during the Fubara administration over the past two years.
Citing a media report the Rights group quoted the full statement thus:
RIVERS GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
The Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CFR, has formally summoned the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, and his Deputy, Dr. Ngozi Ordu, to appear before him for an inquiry into the appointments made under their administration over the past two years
Sir Fubara is directed to present all relevant documents and records pertaining to appointments, including justifications and procedures followed during his tenure. The session will also serve as an opportunity for the suspended Governor to provide a clear and detailed explanation as to why he believes he should be reinstated to office.
Both parties are expected to appear in person as follows: Date: Friday, 18th April, 2025.
Time: 10:00am Prompt
Venue: Conference Room, Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt.
HURIWA said vehemently kicked against the so-called invitation by “the usurper of the Rivers state people’s mandate as military administrator,” cautioning Governor Siminalayi Fubara against dignifying his illegal summons with a physical presence or even a response based on the fact that the illegal suspension from office of the sitting governor constituted the kernel of the suit filed before the nation’s apex court just as the Rights group said the invitation if honoured would render the suit a mere academic exercise since it would mean that Governor Fubara has accepted his unconstitutional suspension from office”
HURIWA said the decision by Governor Fubara to honour the illegal summons by Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas on a Good Friday or indeed on any other day is counter productive given that 11 PDP Governors elected on the same party platform of the Peoples Democratic Party are before the Supreme Court to Challenge Fubara’s Suspension.
In the media statement, HURIWA warned Governor Siminalayi Fubara not to honour any invitation by the Rivers state military administrator because if he the Governor shows up before the military administrator, it would mean that the Governor has abdicated the mandate freely donated to him and his deputy by the overwhelming majority of Rivers state voters in the last Governorship election.
“The rights group repeated that Rivers state has only one constitutionally recognised Chief executive officer and Governor in the person of His Excellency Mr. Siminilayi Fubara. GOVERNOR FUBARA, RESPECT YOURSELF AND YOUR OFFICE BY NOT SURRENDERING TO THE ILLEGAL SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE,” it said.
