March 24, (THEWILL) – The Presidency has dismissed concerns raised against the proclamation of Emergency Rule in Rivers, insisting that the action was taken in line with constitutional provisions to prevent a total breakdown of governance.
While Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said the decision was made in the best interest of both the people and the country, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, on Sunday, said that the opinion expressed by former President Goodluck Jonathan and Soyinka and others are personal.
President Tinubu on Tuesday, on March 18, declared a State of Emergency in Rivers and suspended the executive and legislature on the grounds that governance had broken down, following prolonged conflict between Governor Fubara and the state lawmakers, alongside attacks on oil facilities in the state. Tinubu cited Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to back his action. Subsequently, he appointed a retired naval officer, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as administrator.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Sunday condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, emphasising that the dissolution of the State House of Assembly and the removal from office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu contradicted the principles of federalism.
While speaking with The Africa Report, Soyinka pointed out that the 1999 constitution grants excessive power to the president, emphasising the need for a national conversation on constitutional reforms.
Noting that if the President’s decision “is constitutionally right”, Soyinka said “I think it is about time we sat down and amended the constitution to make sure that it operates as a genuine federal entity.
“The government is over-centralised. The debate will go on whether this (state of emergency) was, in the first place, a wise decision. But in terms of fundamental principles, I believe that this is against the federal spirit of association.
“I find that the constitution has put too much power in the hands of the President. The system we are operating right now is not the best for a pluralistic society like ours. That is a fundamental principle I have always held.”
Calling for a national conference to redefine Nigeria’s constitutional framework, he said, “The federal spirit of association is a cardinal principle and, for that reason, some of us have called again and again for a national conference to really accord ourselves an authentic people’s constitution. Right now, in principle, this action is against the federal imperative.”
Also, on Sunday, former President of the Senate, Adolphus Wabara described the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State as a, “gross violation of Nigeria’s Constitution and an assault on democracy and the rule of law. This action is a direct attack on the essence of our Republic. It deserves the strongest condemnation and corrective action by all well-meaning Nigerians, the judiciary, civil society, and the international community,”
Senator Wabara, currently Chairman of the Board of Trustee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said ,“This undemocratic move violates our constitution, which the President swore to uphold, and threatens the very foundation of democracy in Nigeria,”
Earlier, former President Goodluck Jonathan declared the suspension of Fubara and other elected officials in Rivers as a “clear abuse of power”.
In his reaction, Ajayi said, “Professor Wole Soyinka and former President Goodluck Jonathan are respected statesmen. Like many Nigerians who have offered varied opinions on the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, the two distinguished Nigerians have also offered their views.
“President Tinubu has a country to govern, and he has exercised his power under the 1999 Constitution as amended. President Tinubu has a duty to preserve Nigeria’s corporate existence. He won’t allow any part of the country or state to descend into chaos.
“The Supreme Court ruled that there is no functioning government in Rivers State known to the constitution of Nigeria. President Tinubu won’t fail in his sacred duty to protect and preserve the country.”
Ajayi also justified the appointment of retired Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ette Ibas, as sole administrator, stressing that his role was to stabilise governance until normalcy could be restored. He maintained that the measure was not intended to undermine democracy but to protect the state from further instability.
Meanwhile, opposition continues to grow against the emergency rule in Rivers State.
The co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu, and Citizens and Civil Society Organisations at the weekend faulted the Executive and National Assembly for approving the emergency rule in Rivers State.
“I am sure every Nigerian feels sadness at what is happening currently in our country,” Yesufu said, adding that, “The democracy that we have today was fought for by a lot of people. It is only fair that we safeguard our democracy and ensure that the rule of law remains sacrosanct and processes are followed in everything being done.
Speaking on behalf of 300 coalitions, the Executive Director of FixPolitics, Anthony Ubani, said that the move on Rivers State was in bad taste and an assault on democratic principles.
He said, “We demand an immediate reversal of the unconstitutional removal of the governor, deputy governor, and House of Assembly members in Rivers State.
“The President does not have the power to dismiss elected state officials arbitrarily. His actions are dictatorial and illegal and must be resisted by all Nigerians.
“We call on members of the National Assembly who were not part of Thursday’s charade to speak up against the violation of the Constitution. The National Assembly is the highest law-making body in the country, and it must not be allowed to get away with choosing which of Nigeria’s laws it wants to obey. There will be several lawsuits in the coming days, and we require the Judiciary to review each case on its merit and not rely on technicalities to dismiss the cases. History has shown that when unconstitutional acts like this go unchallenged, they become the norm. If Rivers is silenced today, no state is safe tomorrow.”
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
