Governor Siminalayi Fubara must comply fully and immediately with the judgment of the Supreme Court to keep the peace in Rivers State, the President declared yesterday.

According to him, the nation is governed by the rule of law without which there will be no order or governance.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu spoke during a meeting with the delegation of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at Aso Villa.

Speaking specifically on the request by the group for intervention in the political logjam, the President put the issue directly on the lap of Fubara.

He said: “Please go back home and help him implement those recommendations within the shortest possible time. I put the ball back in your court. Help him because, privately and openly, I intervened and counselled the governor.

“Only yesterday (Monday), I told him again to pursue the path of peace and stoop to conquer.

“This is a nation governed by the rule of law. I should not be here as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria if there was no rule of law. I have total confidence in our judiciary.

“Human beings can make errors, but when the Supreme Court has spoken, that’s it.”

Before the apex court judgment, President Tinubu intervened and got the parties in the crisis to reach an agreement. But it was observed in the breach.

Fubara and his supporters claimed that the agreement was skewed against them.

Since the March 7 apex court judgment, apart from asking council chairmen whose election was declared invalid to vacate office, Fubara has repeatedly promised to comply.

The President further said: “We reached an agreement, a written agreement, and both parties signed. Some leaders thought the governor was wrong to have signed it and didn’t implement it. Where did we find ourselves today?

“I’ve given the situation enough time, enough thinking, enough consideration. We cannot falter, we will not.

“The people of Rivers State must not suffer for the democracy that we all pulled together. They will not, they must be protected. I assure you, we’ll do better.”

Yesterday in Port Harcourt, the governor again promised to implement the judgment.

The House of Assembly led by Martins Amaewhule remained active as it had been since the judgment.

It met with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) top officials.

The PANDEF big delegation was led by the body’s joint Board of Trustees (BoT) co-chairmen Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, and former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah.

Also in the delegation was PANDEF chairman Ambassador Godknows Igali.

The President assured the PANDEF leaders of the completion of ongoing projects of his Administration in the Southsouth region.

He said: “Send somebody to go look at what’s going on with the coastal road (Lagos/Calabar). That’s a huge economy and the opportunities associated with it.

“Yes, we’re working with internationally reputable companies to make Uyo Port, Calabar Port, and other Southsouth ports a reality.

“We’re resetting the economy, and it’s tilted far better now. There’s funding for our children in universities, our medical colleges are well-equipped.

“Yes, there’s an infrastructure deficit in some areas, but we will fix it. We’re setting our priorities right.

“With our youthful population, we can achieve the greatest things in Africa. Let us not look at the past wastes, let us learn lessons from it and move forward with this country.

“Whatever remains in these memos that you’ve submitted, I will take a look at them. We’ll meet more regularly.

“Go back home and take charge of peace, and if you need me, let me know.”

The President urged the leaders to support young leaders making strides in community development, citing the work of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Managing Director of NDDC.

“Ogbuku, the MD of NDDC, is doing a very good job. Encourage him to achieve more,” President Tinubu said.

King Alfred Papapreye Diete-Spiff thanked the President for his commitment to Southsouth well-being and appointments given to Niger Delta indigenes.

“Your government has taken the bull by the horns, and we are sure you will succeed. We are here to give you our assurance and support. God bless Nigeria and your government,” he said.

Obong Attah called for further intervention in the Rivers crises.

Attah, who also chairs the reconciliation committee set up by PANDEF in Rivers, said the political crisis threatens national stability and deserves more attention.

“Instability there has far-reaching consequences on the peace and stability of the nation,” he added.

He praised the President’s reforms, including power devolution and regional development recognition, and urged focus on infrastructure, seaports, environmental sustainability, and fiscal federalism.

On the delegation were politicians, top government officials, traditional rulers, and senior figures from the zone.

These include many known supporters of Fubara. Among them are: Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) chairman Uche Secondus, former Rivers State Deputy Governor Tele Ikuru; and Prof. Mike Ozakhome (SAN).

Other are: former Cross River State governor, Mr Liyel Imoke; Senator Seriake Dickson; former NDDC Managing Director Timi Alaibe; Jaja of Opobo, Prof. Dandeson Jaja; Senator Ita Enang; Senator Bassey Henshaw; Mrs Ibim Semenitari; Senator Andrew Uchendu; National Coordinator of Host Communities of Nigeria, HOSTCOM, Okareme Maikpobi; Niger Delta activist, Ms Ann-Kio Briggs; spokesman of PANDEF, Chief Obiwevbi Ominimini.

Also in attendance were the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.

Protesters yesterday stormed Akure, the Ondo State capital over abduction of nine surveyors at Owode Ilu-Abo in Akure South Local Government Area.

The surveyors who hail from Akure were at Owode Ilu-Abo for jobs when they were abducted.

Placards-carrying women stormed the streets of Akure and blocked the Oba Adesida Road.

A sister to one of the kidnapped victims, Comfort Afolabi, said the surveyors were abducted last week.

Afolabi said the kidnappers demanded N50mil;lion before they would begin negotiation for their release.

She said the kidnappers have placed the ransom at N100million before they would release their victims.

Kidnappings have been on the rise in Ondo State. Last week, a farmer and his manager were abducted while returning from the farm at Oba Ile.

Ondo Police Commissioner, Wilfred Afolabi, had admitted that the state Police Command lacked requisite logistics to tackle kidnappings and other criminals.

The Forum of Aggrieved Constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over the alleged abuse of power and violation of the oath of office by three senators, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

In a petition addressed to the CCB Chairman, the group accused Akpabio, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, of unlawfully suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan in defiance of a court order.

The petition obtained by SaharaReporters on Tuesday, states, “On 4th March, 2025, the Senator representing our Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan secured an interim order of injunction from the Federal High Court restraining the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct, Sen. Neda Imasuen from proceeding with the purported investigation against the Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.”

It further alleges that, “Despite being served with the said Court Order, Sen. Neda Imasuen disregarded the said Court Order claiming that the Court cannot interfere with the functions of the Senate knowing that, such is not correct in view of the provisions of Section 4(8) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.”

According to the petitioners, Imasuen’s committee hastily conducted the hearing on 5th March 2025 without the presence of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, despite initially inviting her for 11th March.

They claimed, “The Committee quickly sent a fresh invitation letter on the same 5th of March, 2025. Sen. Imasuen’s Ethics Committee hurriedly prepared a Report contrary to a valid Court order served on him and presented the same on the floor of the Senate on 6th March, 2025.”

The report recommended a six-month suspension for Akpoti-Uduaghan, a decision the petitioners insist violates Senate Rules.

“The Sen. Imasuen led Committee recommended that the said Senator be suspended for six months even when the Rules of the Senate prescribe only 14 Legislatives vide order 67(4) of the Senate Rules.”

During the Senate’s consideration of the report, Senate President Akpabio presided over its adoption, while Bamidele supported it despite being aware of the restraining court order.

The petition highlights, “Senator Opeyemi Bamidele who is the Senate leader urged the Senate to adopt the said Report even when he knew about the said restraining order of Court and the Rules of the Senate.”

The group argued that the suspension was a direct attack on the rights of Kogi Central constituents to representation in the Senate.

They asserted, “Their wilfully abusive actions are arbitrary and knowingly prejudicial to the right of Kogi Central Constituents of Kogi State to have their elected Senator represent their collective interests in the Senate.”

They demand that the CCB investigate and take appropriate action against the three senators, citing breaches of the Nigerian Constitution.

The petition concludes, “The above named Senators are therefore in deep contravention of paragraph 9 of the Fifth Schedule (part 1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.”

The petitioners have urged the Bureau to act under its constitutional powers to address what they describe as a blatant violation of the rule of law.