The South-South Governors’ Forum has declared that President Bola Tinubu did not follow the guidelines that he needed to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State, just as they called for the revocation of the order.
The governors, in a statement signed by the forum’s Chairman, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, made this declaration.
The governors said though they acknowledge Tinubu’s constitutional duty to maintain law and order throughout Nigeria, they however declared that the president did not satisfy the criteria for declaring a state of emergency as outlined in Section 305(3) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
“This section suggests that such a declaration should be considered under specific conditions like war, external aggression, imminent invasion, breakdown of public order, existential threats to Nigeria, natural disasters, or other significant public dangers.
“It is also worth noting that the Constitution outlines specific procedures for the removal of a governor and deputy governor, as detailed in Section 188, and similar provisions exist for the removal of members of the House of Assembly and the dissolution of parliament.
They said the crisis in the State going on between the suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the House of Assembly should, can be resolved through legal and constitutional means, rather than by executive fiat.
The South-South governors therefore called on the president to rescind the six-month state of emergency to reduce tension and for peace to endure.
They also called on all the parties to immediately embrace dialogue, just as they urge
all parties to remain calm, uphold peace and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
On Tuesday, Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast slammed the state of emergency on Rivers State, suspend Fubara and his deputy for an initial six months, and in their place appointed a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) as Sole Administrator of the state.
The President in Abuja on Wednesday swore-in Ibas before a sizeable crowd of some top government officials.
