Rivers Crisis: Whoever Has Any Misgivings or Concerns Should Channel Them to NASS – AGF

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has backed the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

He added that anyone with misgivings or concerns regarding the declaration by President Bola Tinubu should direct them to the National Assembly.

Fagbemi stated this while briefing State House correspondents at the presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday. 

He said: “There are occasions when, especially when it comes to national issues, we have to come out plainly. And sincerely, where do you put the minister of FCT in this case? Was he the one who asked for the demolition of the House of Assembly?

‘’Was he the one who said the governor should not present his budget to the House of Assembly? Was he the one who advised the governor not to go through the House of Assembly for purposes of ratifying the commissioner nominees?

“I don’t know because if you want to look at a case, you look at the facts that have been presented, the Supreme Court made this critical findings. FCT minister did not feature, whatever the situation. Assuming he featured, he would have featured, maybe on the side of the legislator.

“But what you have here is let everybody go home for the first six months, so I don’t see his hand here. I will encourage us to read the judgment of the Supreme Court. There were about 11 or 12 findings against the governor.

“What sentiment are we bringing to bear in this matter? I don’t think there is any sentiment. What remains is if the National Assembly feels that the President has not done well, then you won’t have the two thirds majority required to validate his action.

“Certainly, you know it’s like a situation in which the veto usually is on the side of Mister president when a bill is presented. But the converse is the same here, that it is the president, who is initiating a move to declare a state of emergency.

“He has to make that move. He made that clear in his speech, in his broadcast yesterday (Tuesday), that I’ve made this decision and referred the matter to the National Assembly. It is for the National Assembly to say now we veto. That is to say, we don’t give you approval.

“Since the National Assembly is still in session, we expect that within 48 hours, something will come out for it. So whoever has any misgiving, any concern, I will say, should channel it to the National Assembly to say, don’t give the required two-thirds approval required, otherwise we should all, like I said, continue to put up our patriotism cap.”