A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dele Momodu, has urged President Bola Tinubu not to “kill democracy in Nigeria” in light of his recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Momodu criticized the president’s actions, describing them as “anti-democratic.”
Tinubu’s decision to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State, along with suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state’s House of Assembly for six months, has sparked widespread controversy. This move came amid ongoing political crises in the oil-rich state.
Appearing on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Momodu expressed his disappointment with the president’s approach. “I think it is very unfortunate. I know President Tinubu very, very, very well. Though I’ve not been in the same party [with him] and all that, we were together in exile, and he fought gallantly for this democracy. So a lot of us, co-comrades at that time, are actually very embarrassed that we have a pro-democracy leader in government, and yet what we are witnessing is worse than dictatorship,” he said.
Momodu emphasized that the move contradicts the pro-democracy stance Tinubu once championed. He added, “I’m pleading with President Bola Tinubu, ‘Please don’t kill democracy in Nigeria.’ Everybody who loves him will tell him this. I don’t; I’ve not asked him for anything or anything, but we love him for his contributions to the motivation in the back, which is what is going down the drain.”
The PDP leader also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using intimidation tactics against the opposition. He warned the president to be cautious of those around him, stating, “I’m saying it now openly to millions of Nigerians that people are deceiving President Tinubu, and he should not allow people to deceive you.”
Momodu concluded by urging Tinubu to focus on doing his job well to guarantee a second term, without resorting to intimidation. “He should just do his job. The only thing that can guarantee a second time is to do your job well. You do not need to intimidate anybody,” he said.
