Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers State Condemned by APC Stalwart
A leading chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State. He labeled the move as an unconstitutional power grab and an attack on democracy, particularly targeting Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Emergency Declaration Sparks Political Uproar
In a statement released in Port Harcourt, Chief Eze accused Tinubu of political bias. He questioned why the President suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly members while leaving out Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whom he described as the mastermind of the crisis.
Eze referenced Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, emphasizing that it does not empower the President to remove an elected governor.
“There is no provision in Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution that allows the suspension or removal of a democratically elected Governor. This action sets a dangerous precedent,” Eze stated.
He also recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan, during the 2013 state of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States, did not remove the sitting governors, as such a step would have been unconstitutional.
Oil Revenue vs. National Security: A Political Agenda?
The APC chieftain accused Tinubu of prioritizing oil interests over national security, noting that despite ongoing violence from terrorist attacks and herdsmen invasions, no state of emergency had been declared in other crisis-ridden states.
“Since Tinubu took office in 2023, thousands of Nigerians have been killed due to insecurity, yet no state of emergency was declared. But at the mere threat to oil facilities, the President acted with unprecedented urgency.”
Eze further alleged that Wike’s failure to impeach Governor Fubara using defected lawmakers prompted him to pressure the President into taking unconstitutional steps to remove the governor.
Political Manipulation and the Future of Democracy
Eze warned that Rivers people would resist any attempt to undermine their democratic rights, asserting that the state of emergency was a ploy to impose Wike’s political influence over the region.
“The suspension of Fubara while Wike walks free is a direct attack on democracy. Rivers people will not allow their state to be hijacked by political interests.”
Additionally, he reminded Tinubu of his opposition to former President Jonathan’s 2013 emergency rule, in which he labeled such decisions as dangerous governance trends.
Calls for Resistance and Legislative Intervention
Eze called on the National Assembly, state governors, and other democratic forces to reject the state of emergency, warning that allowing such unconstitutional actions to stand would weaken Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
External Link: Read more on constitutional provisions regarding state of emergency declarations
Conclusion
The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State has ignited a political firestorm, with Chief Eze leading the opposition against President Tinubu’s controversial decision. As tensions rise, the coming days will determine whether democratic institutions will challenge this move or allow it to set a new precedent in Nigeria’s political landscape.
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