A group, Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) yesterday went to the American Embassy in Abuja where they canvassed support of the United States for President Bola Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The lawyers who marched to the Embassy maintained that under Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, the president has discretionary powers to proclaim a state of emergency if public safety and public order are in danger.
Led by Beeior Orpin, the lawyers who submitted their petition to the US ambassador said Tinubu had to wade in because Rivers State, under the suspended governor Siminilayi Fubara was verging on anarchy because he demolished the legislative arm of government and became a total tyrant.
They remarked that Nigeria is a constitutional democracy like the United States which subscribes to the same democratic principles and ethos.
Stating that President Tinubu deserves the support of the US, they noted: “Lives and property were in grave danger in Rivers State before the president’s intervention. Since then, calm has returned, and the process of enduring peace and law and order is in progress.
“We thank the president for his timely action and request that the United States as the bastion of democracy, support him to entrench law and order in our country.”
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