Former President Goodluck Jonathan has spoken out against the recent suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials in the state, calling the decision harmful to Nigeria’s image.
Speaking on the situation in Rivers State, Jonathan said, “These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light.”
He made the remark while speaking at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday.
His reaction follows President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. Tinubu suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state House of Assembly for six months. The president said the move was necessary to restore stability amid political tensions between the governor and lawmakers.
On Tuesday, Tinubu also appointed retired Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, as the state’s sole administrator. The Senate and House of Representatives approved the emergency rule on Thursday.
Jonathan, however, warned that such actions could affect the country’s ability to attract investment.
He explained that former presidents usually avoid commenting on political matters to prevent further tension, but he felt compelled to speak due to calls from Nigerians, especially as a leader from the Niger Delta.
Jonathan also criticized interference in the judiciary, saying it undermines public trust.
He said, “As a former President and also from the Niger Delta, when the issue of suspending the Governor of Rivers State came up, I think people called on me, President Jonathan and ex-President Obasanjo to say something.
“People expected us to say something about what is happening. Of course, people don’t even know that traditionally all over the world, former presidents hardly make statements about what the current presidents are doing because of the tension it could create in the country.
“In most cases, look at America, look at everywhere…So, for former presidents to make statements …and of course, what is happening in Nigeria today regarding the situation in Rivers State is like an Indian proverb that says that if somebody is sleeping, really sleeping, you can easily wake up that person.
“But if that person is pretending to sleep, you find it difficult to wake up that person.
“The key actors in Nigeria, from the executive to the legislature, judiciary and the Senate and others are here.
“And the judiciary, they know the correct thing to do. But they are refusing to do it.
“They are pretending to sleep and waking such a person is extremely difficult because the person knows the right thing, a clear abuse of office and clear abuse of power cutting across from the three arms of government, from the executive to the parliament and the judiciary.
“And I always plead with our people that whatever we do affects everybody and sometimes we do things and we think that it doesn’t affect us.
“Why is it that our passport is not valued that much? Why is it that Nigerians are not given the kind of treatment we’re supposed to receive at international airports?
“Sometimes, we think it’s because of ‘yahoo’ boys or 419. Not only them, yes, they are part of the problem. But whatever happens in the country, decisions that are taken by the executive arm of government, decisions that are taken by the parliament and judicial decisions affect everybody.
“For example, no businessman can bring his money to invest in a country where the judiciary is compromised, where government functionaries can dictate to judges what judgment they will give.
“No man brings his money to invest in that economy because we are taking a big risk. So whatever we do affects everybody and if we want to build a nation where children are grandchildren will live, no matter how painful it is, we must strive to do what is right.
“It may cost us, but we must end the…and pay the price to insist on doing what is right.
“Whether you are holding an executive office as a president, a minister, or a governor, or a civil servant, an executive, whether you are holding an office in the parliament, Senate, or House of Representatives, whether you are a judicial officer at the High Courts or appellate courts, we must strive to do what is right. If we want to build a nation that our children would be proud of.
“As we engage in these discussions, let us remember that promoting social change is not a one-time event, but a continuous process.
“It requires our sustained commitment, collective action, and unwavering dedication to the values that promote good governance.
“Let us also recognise that social change is a shared responsibility, one that requires the active participation and engagement of all stakeholders including civil society, the private sector and governments.”
In resolving our differences therefore, we must strive to save and not to destroy. Let us employ methods of peace and non-violence to resolve our differences.
“We must unite. Whether we are Christians or Muslims, whether we come from the east or the west, the north or the south, we must never lose sight of the fact that we are all children of God and citizens of one nation.
“We must reach out to one another across state and religious lines. We must forget the past and forge a new nation of peace, founded on truth and justice.
“The Nigeria of my dream is that in which Nigerians of whatever religion or tribe, whatever their states of origin, will hold high offices in states other than their own.”
He urged all Nigerians to strive for a more integrated, more united, more efficient and more peaceful nation.
His words: “We must all work ceaselessly for peace and unity. No price is too great to be paid for peace.
“We are never going to have peace until we are willing to go the extra mile, to turn the other cheek and to add our coat when our cloak is taken.“
“We should not lose sight of the supreme price that the Son of God Himself paid that we may have the peace that we are now dissipating.
“As he took our burdens upon himself in order that we may be reconciled to God, so we must be willing to take upon ourselves the burdens of one another so that together we can build a nation of righteousness and peace.”
Responding, Awomolo said he was moved by Kanu’s statement and said he had forgiven the accused for all he said against him.
Awomolo said he was not a persecutor, but a prosecutor. He pledged to work to ensure prompt prosecution of the case.
The proceedings were conducted under heavy security protection, with fully armed operatives of the Department of State Services (SSS) providing full security control for the court.
Movements in and out of the court’s premises were restricted, with adjoining streets cordoned off. Vehicular movements were equally restricted around the court building.
Justice Nyako first withdrew from the case on September 24, 2024 upon an oral demand by Kanu.This precipitated an abrupt end to the day’s proceedings.
That day’s proceedings had commenced without any signs of trouble, with Kanu’s lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor, praying the court to postpone hearing on the grounds that his client had not been accorded the opportunity to adequately prepare for his defence.
But before Ejimakor could conclude his submission, Kanu rose from where he sat in the dock and told his lawyer to sit down.
Kanu told Ejimakor: “Sit down! I say you should sit down.” Then, turning to the judge, he said: “my lord, I have no confidence in this court anymore and I ask you to recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court.
“I can understand it if the DSS (Department of State Services) refuse to obey a court order, but for this court to refuse to obey an order of the Supreme Court is regrettable.
“I am asking you to recuse yourself from this case,” Kanu said.But Awomolo (SAN) urged the court to ignore Kanu’s request and proceed with the trial.Awomolo noted that contrary to Kanu’s claim, the Supreme Court actually ordered that the defendant (Kanu) should be tried on the seven counts left in the 11 counts contained in the original charge on which he was first arraigned.
He said: “The Justices (of the Supreme Court) ordered this court to proceed with the hearing of the charge against the defendant.
“My lord, you should not recuse yourself on the basis of this mere observation, which does not have anything to do with the Supreme Court.
“It is an incompetent observation. We urge this court to proceed with the hearing,” Awomolo said.
Without seeking the judge’s permission to speak, Kanu, again, stood up, and held out a document he claimed was the subsisting judgment of the Supreme Court.
Kanu proceeded to read a portion of the document where he said the Supreme Court found that actions of the trial court in the case “rendered the impartiality of the judge suspect.”
Kanu then, said: “But my lord, you know that I love you. It is just that this court is allowing the prosecution to railroad me into a trial that is at variance with every provision of the Constitution.”
The defendant then sat down, following which Justice Nyako expressed displeasure about Kanu’s conduct.
Justice Nyako subsequently announced her decision to withdraw from the case, saying: “I hereby recuse myself and remit the case file back to the Chief Judge.”
However, the CJ, Justice John Tsoho, returned the file to her with a directive that a formal proceeding be conducted during which she could decide whether to withdraw or not.
On February 10 when the parties in the case were scheduled to address the court on the issue of withdrawal pursuant to the CJ’s directive, Kanu said Justice Nyako, having recused herself in September, could not go back on her word.
