Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said the emergency rule President Bola Tinubu imposed on Rivers State and suspension of elected officials in the state was stain on the image of Nigeria.
Jonathan stated this at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Staturday.
“These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light,” he said.
Jonathan said is not the norm for former presidents to comment on issues in the polity to avoid heating the polity, he emphasised that the image of the country and how much investments a country attracts is heavily dependent on the actions of the executive, legislature and judiciary of the country.
His comment on the emergency rule came after the Peoples Democratic Party governors described Tinubu’s actions as unconstitutional and threatened Nigeria’s democratic principles.
Tinubu imposed a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; as well as members of the state House of Assembly for six months.
However, Jonathan said, his comment became necessary after calls from many Nigerians, urging him to speak on the events in Rivers State.
He faulted the situation where an individual can dictate to the judiciary, noting that it makes it difficult for anyone to have faith in the judiciary.
