Actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu for suspending elected officials in Rivers State and imposing emergency rule.
Speaking on Monday, March 24, 2025, Okonkwo, a former member of the Labour Party, asserted that Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers is a treasonous act.
He further characterised the president’s actions as criminal, contending that his appointment of a sole administrator following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the state lawmakers resembles martial law.
Okonkwo stated, “The President has effectively suspended the provisions of the constitution, including section one. Governance in Nigeria—or anywhere else—must adhere to the Constitution.
The appointment of a sole administrator is foreign to our Constitution and is not permissible.
“What the President enacted is martial law. It is unconstitutional, illegal, and criminal; that is the true treason we are discussing. Usurping the power of the National Assembly to legislate for Rivers State is another grave offence.”
He emphasised that the Constitution clearly outlines the process for removing a governor and elected representatives, asserting that the president’s actions represent a coup against the people of Rivers State.
“He did not declare a state of emergency in Rivers; he imposed martial law. What he executed was a coup against the people of Rivers. The Constitution explicitly delineates how a governor is elected (sections 179 and 180) and how a governor can be removed (sections 188 and 189), and the laws regarding the election and removal of House of Representatives members (sections 117 and 110) are equally clear and straightforward,” the lawyer asserted.
He maintained that the appointment of a sole administrator and the president’s decision to direct the state’s allocation to the administrator are both unconstitutional.
Furthermore, he pointed out that Rivers State does not have a budget for 2025 and that the Supreme Court has already ruled that no appropriated bill or law is in effect for the state.
