The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on the National Assembly and other stakeholders to reject the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
Obi warns that allowing this state of emergency to remain in place will only deepen the culture of impunity and lawlessness that currently threatens Nigeria’s democracy.
He expressed his concerns in a post on his X account on Wednesday, voicing his objection to President Tinubu’s emergency measures in Rivers.
Obi stated that President Tinubu has “demonstrated a perilous inclination to undermine democracy” through the declaration of emergency in Rivers.
He characterised the President’s actions regarding the crisis in Rivers as ‘unconstitutional and reckless’.
“The unilateral decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove Governor Similaya Fubara of Rivers State is not merely unconstitutional; it is also reckless,” he said. “This move has thrown us back into a state of lawlessness, significantly reversing the progress we have made over the past 26 years of democratic development.”
Obi argued that the circumstances in Rivers do not warrant such a drastic response from the President. He further accused Tinubu of a skewed interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
“Reverse your atrocious decision on Rivers before it’s too late,” warned the PDP governors to Tinubu.
“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is not only reckless; it is an overt attempt to revert us to a state of nature and tighten his hold on power at any cost.”
“This represents a degrading backdoor imposition of martial rule on a crucial region of the federation, with all the associated negatives.”
Obi continued, “The political situation in Rivers does not justify such an extreme measure, nor does it align with a fair interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution. A state of emergency does not equate to the unilateral removal of an elected Governor. This decision contradicts democratic principles and the ideals of good governance, appearing instead to serve specific interests rather than the collective good of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria.”
He concluded that such actions constitute an unconstitutional overreach, setting a perilous precedent that could undermine democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. If left unchallenged, it risks fostering a culture of impunity.
“Having already struggled with adherence to electoral qualifications, rules, and widespread rigging, the arbitrary removal of elected officials will only push us towards a state of nature and anarchy,” Obi added.
