By John Ogunsemore
The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State and suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Ordu, for six months.
This is contained in a statement Obi released on Wednesday.
In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, the president said he invoked his powers vested in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to make the proclamation.
The president also appointed a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibot-Ette Ibas (rtd) as Sole Administrator of the state for the period.
However, Obi said the president’s “unilateral decision” to suspend the governor was “unconstitutional and reckless”.
He said this has “plunged us back into a state of lawlessness, hugely undoing the progress we have made in these 26 years of democratic journey”.
“By disregarding the rule of law, the President has shown a dangerous willingness to trample on democracy.
“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is not just reckless—it is a clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten its grip on power at all costs,” the former Anambra governor said.
Obi said it is a degrading back door imposition of martial rule on a strategic part of the federation with all the implied negatives.
Obi emphasised that the political situation on the ground in Rivers does not justify such an extreme measure, noting that the president’s action is also a biased interpretation of section 305(1) of the 1999 constitution.
“A state of emergency does not mean an elected Governor can be removed unilaterally. This decision does not align with democratic norms or good governance. Instead, it appears to be a predetermined action serving specific interests rather than the collective good of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria.
“This action constitutes an unconstitutional overreach, setting a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. If left unchecked, it could foster a culture of impunity.
“Having already been grappling with non-adherence to electoral qualifications, rules, and massive rigging, adding arbitrary removal of elected officials will push us to a state of nature and anarchy,” Obi said.
He urged the National Assembly and all stakeholders not to allow this to stand, as it only deepens the culture of impunity and brigand already threatening the nation’s democracy.