From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adolphus Wabara has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and called for its reversal.
In a statement, he said the action which led to the suspension of all the democratically elected officials in the state, was undemocratic and alien to the country’s constitution
“It’s sad and disheartening that Mr. President ignored my earlier advice to ignore those calling for emergency rule in Rivers State. I had also advised him not to lean towards those attempting to hijack power through the back door in Rivers State. I had then sought his intervention as the father of the nation because the political crisis in Rivers State, if mismanaged, is capable of plunging the entire country into a needless political turmoil.
“I unequivocally denounce the President’s action, which disregards the rule of law and undermines the sovereignty of the people of Rivers State. This grossly undemocratic action constitutes a violation of our constitution, which the president solemnly swore to uphold and threatens the very foundation of democracy in Nigeria.”
The former Senate president said President Tinubu’s action only reminded Nigerians of the better forgotten era of military dictatorship.
“Could it be a mere coincidence that the day the PDP’s national secretariat’s land in Abuja was revoked by the APC-led administration, was the same day the Governor of Rivers State was served impeachment notice?
“Nigeria’s constitution, under Section 7(1), mandates that each state shall have a government that is formed through the democratic process of elections. The people of Rivers State exercised their democratic rights in electing their leaders, including the State Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the House of Assembly.
“These leaders were not appointed by the President or any other authority but were chosen by the people to represent their interests. The Constitution guarantees their right to serve the duration of their mandate and the president’s unilateral suspension of these duly elected officials represents a direct violation of the people’s will.”
Wabara said although Section 305 of the Constitution vested the President with power to declare a state of emergency, such power was not without limits.
He said it was surprising that Tinubu, who condemned President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, for proclaiming a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states that were ravaged by Boko Haram insurgents to allow his administration by-pass the elected governments in dealing with the terrorists and restore territorial integrity of Nigeria could declare a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspend the democratically elected government unprovoked.
“This is nothing short of hypocrisy and a well-orchestrated plan to hijack power from the Rivers State Governor in the accomplishment of his 2027 presidential ambition. This is a veiled plot for the APC to take over Rivers State.”
Wabara equally condemned the National Assembly for the way it ratified the president’s action.
“The BoT of the PDP was further devastated by the provocative process adopted by the National Assembly in ratifying the action of Mr. President. Approving a state of emergency via a voice vote instead of the constitutional two-third majority is another travesty of justice, legislative rascality and a rape of democracy.
“The claims by the Speaker of the House of Representatives that there were 243 members on the register is laughable. Those 243 members should be physically present in the chamber and not on the register. Names on the register without physical presence does not in any way translate to two third majority. What translates to two third majority is physical voting or electronic voting. The presiding officer will mention your name, you say ‘Aye or Nay.’ Afterwards, they will calculate the numbers and do the arithmetic until you get two third majority.”
Wabara said members of the PDP Board of Trustees would join the PDP Governors’ Forum and the NWC to stand in solidarity with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the people of Rivers at this difficult and trying moment of the state’s political history.