A coalition of opposition political leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, and key Labour Party (LP) leaders, have strongly opposed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
The President announced the emergency rule on Tuesday, citing the political unrest in the state. As part of the move, Tinubu suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and the state’s House of Assembly members for six months.
However, at a briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the coalition condemned the decision, arguing that it is unconstitutional. The group stated that the section of the Constitution invoked by President Tinubu to declare the state of emergency was misapplied. They called for the immediate reversal of the decision and urged the National Assembly to reject the move. The coalition also called on the judiciary to swiftly intervene and nullify the declaration.
“We call on all citizens and civil society groups to rise up in defense of democracy,” the coalition stated. They further warned the federal government against fabricating a political crisis that could destabilize the already fragile situation in the Niger Delta, recalling the historical unrest in the region and the efforts made by previous administrations to manage it.
The coalition also expressed concern about the potential consequences of such a declaration on the delicate balance in the Niger Delta region.
In the wake of the declaration, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) as the sole administrator of Rivers State, swearing him in on Wednesday at the State House in Abuja.
While the opposition has voiced their disapproval, the federal government has defended the move. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, argued that the declaration of emergency served as a form of protection for Governor Fubara, who was facing impeachment proceedings. He explained that the impeachment would have led to the governor and deputy governor’s removal, leaving them without office for the remainder of their term.
