More opposition have continued to trail President Bola Tinubu’d declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State with latest coming from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), and the civil society organisations.
They condemned the emergency rule, describing it as “an assault on democracy.”
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, railed against the President’s action as “hasty and unconstitutional,” violating Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.
“This reckless move should deeply concern every reasonable governor and citizen who believes in the rule of law,” the statement read.
“No democratic society can thrive where elected leaders are arbitrarily removed at the whims of the President,” it added.
According to the labour unions, the suspension or removal of the governor, deputy governor, and the state House of Assembly members was unlawful and set a dangerous precedent, eroding constitutional governance and threatening the autonomy of subnational governments.
“We demand the immediate reversal of this unconstitutional state of emergency in the interest of democracy, economic stability, and the welfare of Nigerian workers.
“Nigeria’s democracy must not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency,” the unions warned.
Similarly, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said Tinubu had caused “a setback for the rule of law,” adding that the authorities must ensure that the situation did not become a reason to deprive the people of their rights.
“The Nigerian authorities must uphold human rights in Rivers State and ensure that the emergency does not become a cause or reason to deprive people of their rights.
“The suspension of democratic institutions is a setback for the rule of law. There must be safeguards for people’s rights,” he said.
Also, the National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, Emmanuel Onwubiko, likened Fubara’s suspension to military coups that occurred in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
“This unconstitutional takeover of another branch of government in Rivers State under Governor Siminalayi Fubara by an elected civilian President and his grotesque, nebulous and sham decision to bring back a retired Naval Chief to exercise the same powers of an elected governor is a calculated attempt to establish a dictatorship,” Onwubiko said in a statement.
The Coalition of Northern Groups, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, cautioned the President to tread carefully.
“Instead of allowing Wike’s rhetoric to dictate policy, Tinubu should focus on fostering unity and addressing the underlying grievances that fuel discontent.
“By doing so, he can reinforce his leadership while mitigating the risk of exacerbating tensions,” the group noted.
But the Federal Government has defende Tinubu for the action taken o the crisis in the state.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the President took a “bold decision” to stop the state from “complete collapse,” stressing that Fubara would have been impeached if not for the presidential intervention.
Fagbemi said it as a “clear signal” to other crisis-ridden states that the Federal Government will not tolerate breaches of the Constitution.
“Let the signal be sent for those who want to foment trouble,” the AGF said when he briefed State House correspondents at an emergency edition of ‘Meet the Press’, organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.
He said the President’s intervention was the only option left to deal with the constitutional breaches in Rivers, including the demolition of the state House of Assembly and Fubara’s failure to deter militants from vandalising oil pipelines.
“The action of the President is the effect of a fundamental cause, and you cannot be treating the effect in order to cure the cause. What was the cause? The governor and members of the House of Assembly. So, you have to behave responsibly, and you must have the gut,” he stated.
Fagbemi said the Supreme Court had made “very profound findings of breaches of the Constitution,” adding that the court described the Rivers State governor as having acted “like a despot,” effectively leaving the state with “no government.”
According to him, Tinubu had explored multiple avenues with other well-meaning Nigerians and thought leaders to resolve the crisis in Rivers before resorting to a state of emergency.
Fagbemi as crude oil is the nation’s economic mainstay, anyone ‘touching’ the pipeline is not only an enemy of Rivers but Nigeria.
“Don’t forget that before now, Nigeria was producing about 900,000 barrels of crude oil per day. With the efforts of the President, he ensured that the production rose to about 1.15 million litres of barrels per day.
“That’s about a 45 per cent increase. Governors were smiling home at the end of the month with about a 60 per cent increase in their take home to various states.”
