Falana argued that the president’s intervention in Wike and Fubara’s feud is an ‘extra-legal’ measure towards restoration of law and order
By Kehinde Okeowo
A human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has asserted that the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the political crisis rocking Rivers State is not backed by law.
TheNiche had earlier reported that the President recently told the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to face his job and that he will not take sides in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.
He made this known via a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, who said anyone with the belief that the president would take their side in the political crisis would be disappointed.
Prior to the statement, President Tinubu had waded into the crisis involving Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Wike.
His intervention led to a peace pact between the parties late last year, a move that was meant to calm the situation in the State.
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But Falana while featuring on Channels Television programme, ‘Sunday Politics’, said there was no provision outside of the law to resolve the political crisis in Rivers State.
Speaking on the political lock jam, he said: “I think the President’s intervention in the Rivers political crisis is not backed by any provision of the Constitution mind you.
“It’s an extra-legal measure towards the restoration of law and order in that state.
“The President can only wish them well. And if they have taken their battle to the court of law, they just have to follow through and allow the law to take its course. That is what the rule of law is about under a democratic dispensation.
“There is no provision outside the law and that point has to be made abundantly clear to those involved in the crisis in Rivers State.”