Rivers: Fubara, Legislators' Removal Unconstitutional, Threat To Democracy

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate during the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s unilateral removal of Rivers State Governor Similaya Fubara, his deputy and the state legislators.

President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, stating that his action was to restore constitutionality in the state’s governance and accusing the governor of several constitutional breaches.

The president had appointed a former chief of Naval Staff, Vice-admiral Ibot-Ete Ibas (rtd) from Cross River State, as the sole administrator of River State for the first six months. Tinubu directed that his state of emergency declaration commenced immediately after the declaration.

However, in his verified X-handle, the former LP presidential candidate described the removal of Fubara, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly as unconstitutional and reckless.

The former Anambra State governor warned that such actions threaten Nigeria’s democracy, undermine the rule of law, and set a dangerous precedent for governance.

The decision according to him has plunged the country back into lawlessness, undoing the democratic progress made over the past 26 years.

He accused the President of displaying a “dangerous willingness to trample on democracy” insisting that the President bypassed constitutional processes and that he arbitrarily declared a state of emergency in Rivers State.

The statement read: “The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is not just reckless – it is a clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten the government’s grip on power at all costs.

“The action is a degrading backdoor imposition of martial rule on a key part of the country. Such an approach has serious implications for Nigeria’s democracy.

“The decision represents a biased interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which outlines the conditions under which a state of emergency can be declared. The provision does not grant the President the power to remove a sitting governor unilaterally; such a move directly violates democratic norms and good governance.

“This decision does not align with democratic principles. Instead, it appears to be a predetermined action serving specific interests rather than the collective good of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria.

“I appeal to the National Assembly and all stakeholders not to allow this to stand, as it only deepens the culture of impunity already threatening our democracy,” Obi declared.

Obi warned that if the president’s action is allowed to stand, it will breed a culture of impunity and lawlessness. He expressed concern that Nigeria is already grappling with widespread electoral malpractice, disregard for due process, and massive rigging, and that the arbitrary removal of elected officials would only push the country further into instability and anarchy.