The presidency clarifies that Vice President Kashim Shettima's remarks at a book launch were not related to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
During the launch of "OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Oil Block," a book by former Attorney General Mohammed Bello Adoke, Shettima mentioned that Adoke was among those who prevented ex-President Goodluck Jonathan from removing him as governor during Borno State's peak insurgency.
The vice president cited Adoke, who stated that a president cannot remove an elected official. Many have associated this comment with President Bola Tinubu's suspension of Governor Fubara.
Nonetheless, Stanley Nkwocha, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications from the Office of the Vice President, stated that Shettima's comment was misunderstood.
Nkwocha stated on Friday, "We want to make it clear that Vice President Shettima's remarks were intended to recognize the author's professional conduct during his time as Attorney General of the Federation—a tribute to his record in public service."
He referenced events from the Jonathan administration to discuss Nigeria's constitutional evolution. His remarks aimed to underscore how federal-state tensions, with their inherent complexities, have been managed through legal mechanisms and highlighted the nation's progress in this area.
He stated, "To clarify, President Tinubu did not remove Governor Fubara from office. The constitutional action taken was a suspension, rather than an outright removal."
In response to the severe political crisis in Rivers State, a state of emergency was declared and this action was taken. The situation was unprecedented: the State House of Assembly complex faced demolition and the Governor was under threat of impeachment by dissatisfied legislators. It is undeniable that this decisive intervention by the President restored stability and calm to Rivers State.
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