“It Is Not About You, It Is About Protecting Democracy” – CUPP Cautions Fubara

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The suspended Governor of Rivers State ,Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has been  upbraided for his seemingly defeatist disposition towards the collective struggle to restore democratic order in Rivers State.

The Source reports that President Bola Tinubu, had on March 18, 2025, suspended the Governor, his Deputy and Members of the State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

The President subsequently appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok- Ete Ibas as the State Sole Administrator.

But the action has continued to draw flaks from across the country with not a few stridently calling for an immediate return to constitutional democracy.

However, while at a Church Service on Sunday, May 11, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital, Governor Fubara noted that his spirit has since left the Government House.

He stated that he was not all that excited or anxious to be reinstated as the Governor pointing out that some “fights are really not worth fighting for.”

But reacting to the development, the Coalition of United Political Parties CUPP, in a statement issued on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, by Chief Peter Ameh, warned that the suspended Governor has no powers to abandon the fight against the imposition of State of Emergency in Rivers state.

According to the Coalition, Governor  Fubara’s comments and position are without the inputs of the people who are the real owners of the mandate.

The CUPP condemned the Governor for making such a weighty remark without wide consultations, insisting that it smacks of a gross act of betrayal of the people.

“The Coalition of United Political Parties, strongly, denounces the recent statement by suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara who declared on May 11, 2025, that “his spirit has already left the Government House” and expressed reluctance to return even if reinstated.

“This remark made amid the unconstitutional state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025, which suspended Fubara, his Deputy, and the Rivers state House of Assembly, undermines the collective struggle to defend Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

“CUPP asserts that Fubara’s acquiescence is a betrayal of the millions who resisted Tinubu’s authoritarian overreach ,as it was never about Fubara’s personal sentiments,but about upholding constitutional democracy.

“The state of emergency which appointed Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (rtd) as Sole Administrator was widely condemned as unconstitutional, by the Nigerian Bar Association  NBA ,the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and Civil Society groups.

“The Constitution does not permit the suspension of elected officials without due process such as impeachment, under Section 188.”

Seven PDP Governors  the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project SERAP,and the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties CNPP have challenged Tinubu’s action at the Supreme Court ,labelling it a ”blatant violation ,and an attempt at State Capture.

“Nigerians, including CUPP” are supporting this resistance to protect the democratic rights of Rivers electorate ,not to defend Fubara personally.

“His claim that his spirit has left the Government House trivializes this fight ,breaking the hearts of those who protested and litigated to uphold the rule of law”, part of the statement reads.

The Coalition strongly condemned Governor Fubara’s disposition and statement as being indicative of his lack of resolve to courageously confront the tyranny of the All Progressive Congress APC-led Federal Government of Nigeria.

“While acknowledging the  fact that the February 28, 2025 Supreme Court ruling on the Rivers state crisis highlighted some  governance breaches by Fubara, the CUPP however noted that President Tinubu’s response was completely disproportionate, and illegal as have been pointed out by legal experts.

“The fight is about restoring constitutional order ,not  not absolving Fubara’s errors .By framing his suspension as personal liberation ,Fubara misrepresents the struggle ,risking further destabilization of Rivers state ,and emboldening the APC’s alleged state capture agenda”, the CUPP further stated.

Consequently ,the Coalition called on Governor Fubara to immediately withdraw his statement,and reaffirm his commitment to the struggle to institutionalize democracy in the country.

” Your reluctance to return ,even if reinstated, disrespects the sacrifices of Nigerians who are challenging Tinubu’s actions from the streets to the courts”, the CUPP noted.