A traditional ruler, Alabo Edwin Cockeye Brown, has called for an immediate end to the state of emergency and suspension of democratically elected officials in Rivers State.
Brown, who is the vice chairman of Opobo Council of Chiefs, made the call yesterday while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt on the outcome of the just-concluded Ijaw Stakeholders’ Congress held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
He stated that the suspension of a state governor, his deputy and legislators, was an unprecedented assault on democracy.
The traditional ruler argued that suspending an elected governor and the state legislature not only undermine the mandate given by the electorate but also poses a great threat to the political stability of the state.
“Even though Nigeria’s Constitution grants the president powers to declare a state of emergency under Section 305, it does not authorise the suspension of democratically elected officials such as governors or members of the legislature.
“The proper procedure for removing a governor is outlined in Section 188 of the Constitution, which requires legislative processes rather than an executive fiat.
“The unconstitutional suspension of democratically elected government officials is a slow but sure dismantling of democratic structures. This will not help our fledgling democracy, but will destroy all the gains so far made in this democratic dispensation.
“This is not just about Governor Fubara; it is about every citizen of Rivers State who participated in a democratic election. Injustice in Rivers State is injustice all over Nigeria because we are all governed by one constitution,” he said.
He expressed concern that such actions could set a dangerous precedent, eroding public trust in the electoral system and democratic institutions across Nigeria.
The traditional ruler further articulated the historical context of the Ijaw struggle for representation, highlighting the community’s long-standing grievances regarding political marginalisation.
“For over 24 years, we have fought to regain our rightful place in governance. To have that struggle undermined by a unilateral decision from the federal government is not just frustrating – it is an affront to our identity and aspirations as Ijaw people,” he said.
