WATCH THE VIDEO HERE The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu has sparked widespread criticism from various stakeholders, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the African Action Congress (AAC). The PDP rejected the imposition, stating that the President does not have the constitutional power to suspend the democratically elected governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara. PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba described the declaration as “a clear attack on our nation’s democracy, an abrogation of the votes and democratic right of the people of Rivers State to choose their leader under the Constitution.” Atiku Abubakar also faulted the declaration, describing it as “an assault on democracy that must be condemned in the strongest terms.” Atiku noted that the declaration is a political manipulation carried out in bad faith. The NBA expressed grave concerns about the declaration, stating that the President does not have the constitutional power to remove an elected governor under a state of emergency. The NBA emphasized that the declaration remains constitutionally inchoate and ineffective unless approved by the National Assembly. The AAC condemned the declaration, calling it “a cowardly act, an uncivilized move, unpresidential and dangerous to our democracy.” The AAC demanded an immediate reversal of the declaration, stating that any government that cannot protect people and property without trampling on constitutionality and the rights of the people is not worthy to be called a government. The criticisms highlight concerns about the implications of the declaration on democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.
RIVERS: Widespread criticism trails declaration of state of emergency
