The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party Peter Obi has called on the National Assembly to prioritize the interests of the people of Rivers State when considering the state of emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu.
Obi made the call in an open letter to the leadership of the National Assembly on Thursday, urging lawmakers to prevent any potential abuse of power and ensure that the executive branch remains within the limits of the law.
In his letter, Obi reminded the legislature of the events that transpired when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, which led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and 27 members of the state assembly for an initial six-month period. Additionally, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (Rtd) was appointed as the sole administrator.
The letter, addressed to Senate President H.E. Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abass, reads:
“Your Excellencies, I am compelled to write to you, the heads of our legislative branch, in light of the critical situation in our country that requires your urgent and vital intervention to preserve our democracy.
“President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the Rivers State political crisis, through the declaration of a state of emergency and the removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is clearly an ultra vires action that could encourage a culture of impunity—something that the legislature, as a branch of government, is meant to prevent.
“The legislature plays a vital role in checking potential executive abuse of power, including through the ability to override executive actions. The legislature’s power to veto or override executive decisions is an essential part of maintaining balance and preventing the executive from overstepping its bounds.
“The separation of powers, in which the legislative, executive, and judicial branches each have distinct functions and powers, is a fundamental principle of democracy designed to prevent any one branch from becoming too dominant.
The legislature’s role in curbing executive overreach is crucial for maintaining an accountable government, preventing tyranny, and ensuring that the executive branch acts within the law.”
