Rivers State Youths Democratic Congress and Rivers State People urge Siminalayi Fubara to appoint Dr. Clinton Jaja Esq. as Law Revision Commissioner
Secretariat: No. 12 Aba Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Email: rsydc2025@gmail.com
Date: 28th November, 2025.
His Excellency,
Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS
Executive Governor of Rivers State
Government House, Port Harcourt
Rivers State
Your Excellency,
LETTER OF RECOGNITION AND COMMENDATION OF DR. TONYE CLINTON JAJA, ESQ., AND REQUEST FOR HIS APPOINTMENT AS LAW REVISION COMMISSIONER FOR REVISION OF THE LAWS OF RIVERS STATE AS COMPILED BY THE RIVERS STATE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND A COMPENDIUM OF THE BYE-LAWS OF RIVERS STATE.
We, the leadership and members of the Rivers State Youths Democratic Congress (RSYDC), writing on behalf of the peace-loving youths and people of Rivers State, most respectfully bring to Your Excellency’s attention the patriotic and courageous legal action taken by one of our own, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, Esq., and urge the Government of Rivers State to formally recognize and reward his selfless service to our dear State.
Your Excellency, in the heat of the political crisis that threatened the very foundation of democratic governance in Rivers State, certain interests worked against your Democratically elected administration and collaborated have and ensure unlawful invocation and declaration of a State of Emergency, an illegal action that suspended civil rule, stripped Rivers people of their democratic rights, and handed over the destiny of our State to undemocratic forces.
Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, a distinguished legal practitioner, scholar, and son of Rivers State, single-handedly approached the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja and instituted Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/49/2024, challenging the constitutional validity of any purported declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State without strict compliance with Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the principles of federalism. His suit emphatically asserted that the government of Rivers State is democratically elected and functional, and that any attempt to suspend it would violate the rights of the people of Rivers State as guaranteed under the ECOWAS Treaty and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
By this bold action, Dr. Jaja successfully drew regional and international attention to the fact that Rivers State remains a democratic entity and helped to deter anti-democratic forces from plunging our State into constitutional crisis. His intervention contributed immensely to the preservation of peace, stability, and the continued enjoyment of democratic dividends by over seven million Rivers people.
It is therefore our considered view that Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, Esq. has demonstrated uncommon courage, patriotism, and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the defence of Rivers State. Such acts of gallantry and public service deserve the highest recognition and reward by the Government and people of Rivers State.
Consequently, we humbly urge Your Excellency to:Publicly commend and honour Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja for his outstanding contribution to the defence of democracy in Rivers State; Forward his name to the Rivers State Executive Council for appointment as Law Revision Commissioner of Rivers State.
This would be in recognition of his legal expertise in legislative drafting, law reform and law revision as evidenced by his current position as a legal consultant at the Lesotho Law Reform Commission, Kingdom of Lesotho.
Dr. Jaja was previously a law lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Port Harcourt and is currently a Senior Legal Research Fellow at the National Institute for Legislative Studies, Abuja since the year 2014.
Dr. Jaja is on record as the first Nigerian lawyer to be awarded a PhD in law degree with specialisation in Legislative Drafting by the University of London.
The Rivers State Government gave him a fully funded scholarship to obtain this Doctorate degree.
His wealth of experience, unblemished character, and fearless defence of constitutionalism make him eminently qualified to serve as Law Revision Commissioner of Rivers State or on the Bench of our dear State.
Your Excellency, the youths and people of Rivers State will be eternally grateful if this request receives your favourable consideration and expeditious action.
Please accept the renewed assurances of our highest esteem and loyalty.
Yours faithfully,
Comrade Gabriel Baridoo
State Chairman
Rivers State Youths Democratic Congress
Chief (Mrs.) Anita Jackson Brown
Women Leader & Co-Signatory
(On behalf of Rivers Women)
Barr. Anthony Atata.
Legal Adviser & Secretary
Rivers State Youths Democratic Congress
CC:
Deputy Governor, Rivers State.
Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly.
Chief Judge of Rivers State.
National Judicial Council, Abuja
