Former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has strongly criticized the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, calling it a dangerous affront to the nation’s democracy.
Amaechi, who is also a former Governor of Rivers, condemned the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly, describing the move as unilateral and reckless.
He urged the National Assembly to reject the presidential declaration.
Amaechi expressed his concerns in a statement titled “My Immediate Reaction To The Undemocratic, Unconstitutional, Suspension Of Elected State Officials In Rivers State,” which was obtained by The PUNCH.
The statement reads, “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.”
He went on to assert that with this action, President Tinubu has effectively suspended and disrupted democracy in Rivers State, violating the Constitution of Nigeria, which the president had sworn 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,” Amaechi stated.
The former governor further emphasized that a democratically elected state governor cannot be removed through a presidential proclamation. He argued that the suspension of the key democratic institutions in Rivers State violated the Constitution, even within the interpretation of Section 305, which the president referenced in his broadcast.
Amaechi accused the president of orchestrating a power grab in Rivers State, asserting that the actions pointed to a concerted effort by certain individuals to unlawfully impose themselves on the people. He called on Nigerians of goodwill to oppose what he referred to as a violation of the Constitution and a threat to democracy.
“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,” Amaechi added.
The former governor appealed to the Nigerian Governors Forum and other well-meaning Nigerians to speak out against what he called the unlawful actions of the president. “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,” he said.
Amaechi, who has served as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), commended the governors who had already spoken out against the suspension. He concluded by stressing that the suspension was a severe affront to Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy.
