The former vice-president, Atiku Abubakar, has said that the lifting of the suspension on Siminalayi Fubara and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly should not be seen as a cause for celebration.
On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state following a prolonged political crisis.
Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and the legislators were suspended for an initial six-month period by the president.
On Wednesday, Tinubu announced the end of the emergency rule in the state and directed Fubara and the lawmakers to resume duties on Thursday, September 18.
In a post on X on Thursday, Abubakar described the president’s initial action as unconstitutional.
“Lifting the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is nothing to cheer about,” Abubakar wrote.
“The suspension of the Rivers State Governor and the State House of Assembly was unconstitutional when it was done six months ago and is still illegal today.
“President Tinubu had no power to suspend a democratically elected governor and state lawmakers. The Rivers shenanigans only signpost the dictatorship of the Tinubu administration.”