VP Shettima: Adoke Stopped Jonathan, But Fagbemi Couldn’t Stop Tinubu From Suspending Fubara

Vice President Kashim Shettima has criticised the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, for failing to stop President Bola Tinubu from suspending Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, amid the political crisis in the state.

TJ News Nigeria gathered that Shettima drew comparisons between Fagbemi and former AGF Mohammed Adoke, who reportedly resisted efforts by former President Goodluck Jonathan to unseat him while he served as Borno State Governor.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja at the public launch of Adoke’s memoir titled ‘OPL 245: Inside Story of the $1.3 Billion Nigerian Oil Block’, the Vice President commended Adoke’s boldness in defending constitutional limits on presidential powers during his time in office.

“President Jonathan once considered removing me as governor, but Adoke told him clearly he had no such constitutional authority — not even to remove a councillor, let alone a sitting governor,” Shettima stated.

 

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Tinubu Suspended Fubara Amid Political Crisis

TJ News Nigeria can authoritatively report that President Bola Tinubu, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State. The move followed prolonged political tensions and disputes involving Governor Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the State House of Assembly.

The President announced the six-month suspension of the governor, his deputy, and all state lawmakers. He also appointed former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), as interim administrator of the state.

The decision sparked nationwide debate and drew criticism from legal experts, civil society groups, and political observers, many of whom questioned its legality and the implications for Nigeria’s federal structure.

Fagbemi Justified Fubara’s Suspension

Unlike Adoke, who opposed executive overreach under Jonathan, current AGF Lateef Fagbemi reportedly offered legal backing for the controversial suspension of elected officials in Rivers State.

Shettima implied that Fagbemi lacked the courage to act independently in defence of democratic institutions, a role he praised Adoke for playing during his tenure.

Background: Shettima’s Tenure and Jonathan’s Emergency Rule

Shettima served as Governor of Borno State from 2011 to 2019, a period marked by the height of Boko Haram insurgency. On December 31, 2011, Jonathan declared a state of emergency in some local governments across Borno and Plateau States. The measure was later extended to Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States in May 2013.

However, despite widespread violence, Jonathan did not suspend any sitting governor in those states. Shettima highlighted this contrast to argue that executive overreach has worsened under the current administration.

Critics Question Tinubu’s Action

Legal analysts have argued that the 1999 Constitution does not grant the President powers to suspend elected governors or state assemblies, even under emergency rule. Some insist that only a valid court ruling or impeachment process can remove an elected governor.

Prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), previously stated that any suspension of an elected governor without due process amounts to “a coup against democracy.”

Political Undertones and Alleged Wike Influence

The Rivers political crisis has been widely linked to a power tussle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Observers believe the federal government’s intervention may have been influenced by political allegiances within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

TJ News Nigeria learnt that internal party dynamics, including loyalty battles between Tinubu’s allies and Wike’s loyalists, continue to shape the unfolding events in the Niger Delta state.