Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has strongly criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s suspension of elected officials in Rivers State, describing it as an unconstitutional and undemocratic move aimed at seizing power.
Amaechi, who governed Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, argued that the President’s decision directly violates the Nigerian Constitution, particularly Section 188, which outlines the process for removing a state governor.
He insisted that no elected governor can be removed simply by a presidential proclamation.
He stated: “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, which the President cited in his broadcast.”
Amaechi further asserted that the suspension was an orchestrated attempt to impose control over Rivers State.
“The unlawful suspension of elected democratic institutions in my dear Rivers State points to a brazen attempt at a 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 clearly orchestrated plot by some persons to unconstitutionally perpetrate and impose themselves on the people.”
Expressing deep concern over what he termed a slide into totalitarianism, he urged politicians, governors, and lawmakers to resist the move.
“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 and 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.”
Referencing his time as Rivers governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Amaechi emphasized the role governors can play in reversing the President’s decision.
“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 to Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy.”
