Rivers State Of Emergency Unconstitutional, Encourages Impunity–Kwankwaso

Leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and a former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has described the state of emergency declared on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu as a constitutional overdrive that could foster a culture of impunity.

Kwankwaso in a statement made available to newsmen said he was of the view that the political situation in Rivers State did not justify such a flawed interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

He condemned the action by President Tinubu, describing it as anarchy and disregard for the highest public office in the state and lamented how the National Assembly that should check the excesses rather encouraged it.

He also called on the judiciary to be fair to all political parties as custodians of the law in Nigeria, saying it should wake up to its responsibilities.

“The decision by the legislators to speedily discuss and decide on a state of emergency that alters the democratic leadership structure in Rivers State undermines our democracy.

“Our judiciary also has the very important task of balancing the balance of power by being fair to all parties in any conflict. I believe that the custodians of the law in Nigeria need to wake up to their responsibility of calming nerves by being as just as possible, with judgments devoid of any hint of external influence.

“At this age of our democracy, this action by President Tinubu to suspend all elected officials in Rivers State is not only unconstitutional but is also a recipe for anarchy and disregard for the highest public office in the state.

“Moreover, for a politician that prides himself as a consistent advocate and defender of democracy in our country, the decision by President Tinubu to draft in the military into a position of leadership is hugely dangerous to the progress we have made in the 26 years of democratic journey.

“Bola Tinubu should know better than bringing the military closer to power after the good work former president Olusegun Obasanjo did by confining them to their barracks while he led this country.

“This proclamation and the subsequent pronouncements by the Attorney General of the Federation have now sent numerous people in states led by the opposition into disarray, as they set a dangerous precedence for how the Head of State can grip states that do not share the same political standing with the centre.