Politics

A human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has faulted Governor Simi Fubara of Rivers State for directing members of the state assembly to meet at the Government House, saying the legislature is independent of the executive.

Published

1 year ago

May 13, 2024

Falana spoke on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, explaining that since both arms of government are independent, Fubara cannot change the sitting venue of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“I would like to assume that the governor issued that executive order before the intervention of the High Court in Rivers State,” Falana said on the show.

“The house is independent of the executive. So the governor cannot tell the house where to sit.”

‘Not…Recognized By Law’

Fubara had on Friday issued an executive order for the immediate and temporary relocation of the sitting of the Rivers State Assembly to the Auditorium, Admin Block of the Government House, Port Harcourt.

In an official Gazette, Executive Order of the Rivers State Government 001 —2023, Fubara cited the unsafe state of the House of Assembly complex.

“NOW THEREFORE, I SIR SIMINALAYI FUBARA GSSRS, the Governor of Rivers State this 30th day of October 2023, Pursuant to the powers vested in me under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) hereby ISSUE, ORDER, AND DIRECT that all proceedings and business of Rivers State House of Assembly shall temporarily take place at the Auditorium, Admin Block, Government House, Port Harcourt until the repairs, renovation or reconstruction of the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly are completed,” part of the gazette read.

‘Abundantly Clear’ Point

But Falana insisted that Fubara was wrong to move the sitting venue of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and referenced an impeachment of a governor done outside the premises of the House of Assembly which was nullified by the Supreme Court.

“This was very clear in the Oyo State case which led to the impeachment of Governor Ladoja whereby under the influence of the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu, the House was alleged to have sat in a hotel and the Supreme Court made that point abundantly clear that an impeachment carried out in a hotel deviates clearly from the Constitution,” the human rights lawyer said.

“So any sitting of the House outside the premise of the House of Assembly complex will not be known to law; will not be recognized by law.”

He said if there is a need for a sitting elsewhere, the members of the House of Assembly, properly constituted, will have to decide where to carry out their meeting.

“There is a separation of powers under the Constitution and each organ of the government must recognise its own powers and limitations,” he said.

Illegal Position?
Falana equally said having defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the lawmakers have lost their position.

“The 25 lawmakers who defected have lost their seats. They have lost their rights to remain members of the assembly,” he said.

“In the case of Adetunde and the Labour Party, the Supreme Court made it clear that you cannot decamp and then remain a member of a legislative house in Nigeria unless you can show that there is a division in your party. Today, the PDP is one.”

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Politics

Tinubu surrounded by sycophants, detached from ordinary Nigerians — Bugaje

Published

49 minutes ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A political activist, Usman Bugaje, says President Bola Tinubu is detached from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians because he is surrounded by sycophants.

Bugaje made this statement on Thursday during Channels Television’s special Democracy Day programme titled ‘Nigeria’s Democratic Journey: An Inter-Generational Conversation on Building a Better Nation,’ commemorating 26 years of unbroken democratic rule in Nigeria, blasting Tinubu’s leadership style.

He alleged that the President’s inner circle shields him from the harsh realities the citizens face.

“It looks like the President has been completely encircled by sycophants. They don’t allow him to see the realities, they don’t tell him the truth. But if he knew what was happening in society, he would be ashamed of himself. As far as I know him, I never thought he would allow this situation.

“He is now there, wallowing in the comfort of the Villa, talking in ways that show he doesn’t even know what is happening in this country. If he knew, he would not be doing the kind of things he’s doing now,” he said.

The former lawmaker also lamented what he called prosperity without production, adding that Nigerians were no longer swayed by polished speeches but were demanding tangible results.

He accused the current Nigerian democracy of failing to serve its core purpose, which is to uplift the people and ensure their welfare.

He also decried the helplessness of many citizens who have suffered in the hands of insecurity and economic hardship, pointing to the stories of kidnapped victims, unemployed youth, and struggling small business owners.

According to him, any government unable to ensure basic welfare and security has lost the moral right to call itself democratic.

While citing statistics to back his claim, Bugaje described the country’s current state as disgraceful.

Politics

National Assembly becoming shadow of parliament, drifting backwards – Saraki

Published

4 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the 10th National Assembly is becoming a shadow of what parliament should be.

Saraki said the current National Assembly is drifting backwards due to faulty leadership.

He accused other arms of government of playing a key role in weakening the current National Assembly.

Saraki stated this in his remarks to mark Nigeria’s 26 years unbroken democracy at the National Assembly yesterday, June 12.

He said the current crop of legislators owed it a duty to make the parliament stronger for future generations.

According to Saraki: “Let me now say that except we are here to lie to ourselves, we must acknowledge the fact that the National Assembly is gradually becoming a shadow of what a virile and effective parliament should be.

“Today, we seem to be drifting backwards. And we don’t have to go far to find the reason for this sad development.

“I am convinced that this is not only the fault of the legislature and its leadership. The executive and judiciary have consistently played key roles in undermining and weakening the National Assembly.”

Saraki urged leaders to work together towards making the National Assembly a strong institution.

The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain said the National Assembly was established to scrutinize the executive.

He cautioned Nigerians against making the National Assembly helpless and hopeless.

“If the National Assembly is made helpless and hopeless to the extent that the people cannot find succour there, then they will be left with no option but to run to the streets. And this is dangerous for our democracy,” he added.

His remark is coming amid accusations that the 10th assembly is a rubber stamp that has leaned completely towards the Federal government.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, had dismissed this, saying NASS enjoys a cordial relationship with the executive.

Adaramodu said the current NASS will rubber stamp things that are in the interest of Nigerians.

Politics

One party state: Tinubu on same page with PDP, other parties – Saraki

Published

4 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said President Bola Tinubu and the opposition parties are on the same page.

Saraki was reacting to Tinubu’s remark that he is not for a one-party state.

There have been claims that Tinubu was moving Nigeria towards a party state, following recent defections to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Some of the defectors had blamed the crisis in their various parties for their decision to join the ruling party.

But, Tinubu while addressing the National Assembly yesterday debunked claims that his administration plans to make Nigeria a one-party state.

He, however, stated that he is happy that the opposition parties are in disarray and he won’t help them.

Tinubu said: “To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be as a result of your panic, it rings in error.”

Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, Saraki said: “We must take him at his words, he spoke well saying he is not for a one-party state, so we must take him at his words that he supports a multi-party, so we are all on the same page.

“We the PDP buy into this and that is why we are going around bringing everybody and they heard it, so those people saying there is pressure, there is no pressure on anybody.

“We are all for multi-party and everybody should go and get his house in order. As he said, he’s not going to help us, so we are going to sort our own house and get it in order.”