’Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state’s lawmakers following the declaration of a state of emergency.
Tinubu announced the emergency rule on Tuesday, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas as the administrator to oversee the state’s affairs for an initial six-month period. However, Amaechi, who governed Rivers from 2007 to 2015, has labeled the move unconstitutional and a dangerous overreach of presidential power.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Amaechi warned that the action undermines democracy and called on Nigerians, especially state governors, to resist what he described as an attempt at totalitarian rule.
“Unequivocally, I condemn the rather brazen and unilaterally reckless suspension and removal of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“With this singular move, Mr. President has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State. This clearly violates our Constitution, the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Mr. President swore to uphold.
“Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution clearly stipulates how a State Governor can be removed from office. And it does not include a fiat declaration, decree, or promulgation by Mr. President. Therefore, he cannot appropriate such powers to himself.
“A democratically elected State Governor cannot be removed from office by a proclamation of Mr. President. The suspension of two key democratically elected arms of government in Rivers State by Mr. President evidently violates our Constitution, even within the scope and interpretation of Section 305 that the President cited in his broadcast.
“The unlawful suspension of elected democratic institutions in my dear Rivers State points to a brazen attempt at power grab in the State by forces and persons who do not have such Constitutional powers. The unfolding events in Rivers State in the past months point to a clear orchestrated plot by some persons to unconstitutionally perpetrate and impose themselves on the people.
“At this inauspicious moment in our nation’s trajectory, all people of goodwill and conscience should rise to oppose this audacious violation of our Constitution and rape of our democracy. Mr. President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand.
“Politicians across divides should speak up; rise to halt our nation’s descent into totalitarianism. State Governors and Legislators should speak up now. I urge the National Assembly to reject this illegality.
“As a former State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), I am not unaware of the role elected Governors in the country can play to halt this descent and reverse the unlawful actions of Mr. President. I commend the Governors that have spoken against the unlawful suspension.
“The suspension is a very dangerous affront on Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy.”
Amaechi’s strong opposition adds to the growing backlash against Tinubu’s emergency declaration, with several political leaders, legal experts, and civil society groups warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.
