A coalition of opposition political leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, and some Labour Party (LP) leaders, has condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
President Bola Tinubu declared the state of emergency on Tuesday following political tensions in the state.
He also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months.
However, during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the coalition denounced the president’s action as unconstitutional.
The group argued that the constitutional provision Tinubu relied upon to justify the declaration was misapplied.
They demanded an immediate reversal of the decision and urged the National Assembly to reject it. They also called on the judiciary to intervene and nullify the move.
According to the coalition, citizens and civil society organizations must rise in defense of democracy.
The group further warned against actions that could destabilize the Niger Delta, recalling past unrest in the region that was only managed through the sacrifices of previous administrations.
They cautioned the Federal Government against “manufacturing” a political crisis that could jeopardize the region’s fragile stability.
Following the emergency declaration, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as the state’s sole administrator.
He was sworn in on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja.
Despite widespread criticism, the Federal Government has defended Tinubu’s decision.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi argued that the emergency rule effectively served as a lifeline for Governor Fubara, who was facing impeachment proceedings.
“If that impeachment had been allowed to take its full course, the governor would have entirely lost and completely.
“So, in a way, instead of allowing the impeachment to continue, and which in the end would have seen both the governor and the deputy governor out of office for the entirety of their four-year term with the remainder of what they have — a balance of two years and two months,” Fagbemi stated.
