Editorial
September 18,2025, marks the restoration of democratic governance in the once political crisis ridden Rivers State in South-South, Nigeria. By this, the suspended governor
of the State, Sir Simi Fubara, and the erstwhile embattled members of the Rivers House of Assembly have all been reinstated to their offices.
It would be recalled that about six months ago, President Bola Tinubu declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State. This development, came as a means to stem the escalation of tension and possible breakdown of law and order in the State occasioned by a seeming unending rivalry between the State governor and members of the State legislature, backed by the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)Abuja, Nyesom Wike.
To avert the State from descending into anarchy, a declaration of a State of Emergency became not only inevitable but desirable, too. At least, that was the excuse given by President Tinubu to justify his action, which was amplified by his Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi,a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
However, many Nigerians and senior lawyers felt otherwise. They viewed Mr President’s action as overreaching his constitutional powers, which ought to render his declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State unconstitutional. But Mr President nudged by his Attorney General stuck to his guns,forcing Fubara and the State lawmakers to step aside temporarily.
Nigerian Horn Newspaper while endorsing the return of democratic governance in Rivers State, is however, alarmed that while all these arguments and counter arguments as regards the constitutionality or otherwise of Mr President’s action considered unlawful by many Nigerians were going on, the nation’s judiciary conspiratorially stayed aloof. As the last hope of the common man,the judiciary embarrassingly chose to sit on the fence to the utter disbelief of Nigerians and the world.
We are piqued to note that a case filed at the Supreme Court of Nigeria by some aggressive governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)about five months ago, seeking judicial interpretation of Mr President’s alleged unlawful action in Rivers State, is still lying fallow at the apex court unmentioned. This is despite scathing criticisms against such action by the apex court, yet our supposed law Lords, continue to feign ignorance of what is going on till today.
To say the least, the lukewarm attitude of the apex court, which seems partisan,is not helpful to Nigeria’s legal jurisprudence and constitutional democracy. Its action on the Rivers State matter pending before it seems to give credence to the accusation of bias against it in the suit. It does appear that the apex court is shielding a high-profile person’s interest in the matter.
Nigerian Horn Newspaper demands that the apex court should redeem its image by doing the needful. Justice delayed is Justice denied. The courts should serve the interest of justice at all times and to all persons, not minding whose ox is gored. A weak or compromised judiciary is a recipe to self-help and, ultimately, a decent to anarchy.
While Nigerian Horn Newspaper joins Nigerians to welcome Governor Fubara and the State lawmakers back to office, it is hoped that lessons must have been learnt and the welfare of the people of Rivers State should henceforth guide their overall conduct rather than personal proclivities.
