Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers State, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to impose emergency rule in the state.
He described the suspension of elected democratic institutions in Rivers as a “blatant power grab.”
On Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing the prolonged political crisis and instability in the state.
The president suspended Governor Fubara, his deputy, and members of the state assembly, appointing retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the new administrator of Rivers who has been sworn in today.
The president’s actions have sparked mixed reactions across the political spectrum.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Amaechi, a former presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), accused certain individuals of orchestrating the crisis in Rivers for their interests, aiming to impose themselves on the state.
Amaechi urged politicians and lawmakers to reject the suspension of elected officials and called on the National Assembly to intervene.
He stressed that the removal of a governor must follow constitutional procedures and warned that allowing President Tinubu’s decision to stand could set a dangerous precedent for the country’s democracy.
“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,” Amaechi said.
“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 Nigeria 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.
“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,” Amaechi said.
“Mr President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand.
“State Governors and Legislators should speak up now. I urge the National Assembly to reject this illegality.”
