A Socio-political pressure group, Gokana Coalition, have criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu over the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
The group asserted that the declaration of the president was promoting constitutional breaches and court judgement disobedience.
They noted that the president rather than sincerely working to sustain the peace in the oil rich state, he rather foisted a sole administrator to run the state against the tenets of the Nigerian constitution, 1999.
The coalition made the disclosure in a statement jointly signed by their Leader, Amb. Tombari Dumka-Kote, Secretary-general, Rt. Hon. Francis Bagia and Spokesman, Kingsley Vigaage, on Tuesday.
They also warned that the sole administrator’s continues disobedience of the provisions of the law and constitution unabated, may lead to civil disobedience.
The group said Section 7, Paragraph 1 of the 1999 Constitution, only Permited a duly elected local government chairmen to receive and manage the allocation of funds from the federation account, hence outlawing the appointment of administrators to run local councils, a provision that the appointed sole administrator had glaringly contravene.
The coalition regretted the level of impunity exhibited by President Tinubu, vowing to initiate a legal action against the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Sole Administrators and the President should they release the state’s allocation to any illegal official.
According to the coalition, their position followed an emergency meeting to appraise the disobedience of court orders by the Rivers State Sole Administrator in the appointment of 23 Local sole administrators, insisting that the appointment contradicts and antagonizes the Supremacy of the Nigeria Constitution (1999) thereby declaring it null and Void.
They insisted that the emergency rule in Rivers State is more about the President’s personal interest, over the interest of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria in general.
The groups however called on members of the national assembly to commence the impeachment of the president.
The statement reads in part, “It is on this premise we are calling on respected National Assembly members to immediately commence the impeachment of President Bola Tinubu for constitutional breaches and failing to protect the nation’s territories and people from terrorist attacks.
“The Bombs that exploded in Lagos, the crisis in Osun State, the capture of 68 Plateau villages by terrorists, the Bornu, Kebbi, and Edo killings and the sudden mute of Mr. President shows the Tinubu Presidency values the capture of Rivers oil wealth and resources than the lives of Nigerians he has sworn to protect.
“We are fast losing our democracy and the international community must intervene and stop President Tinubu’s dictatorship before it goes out of hand.
“There is peace in Rivers State and the hijack of the government by Mr. President is unacceptable. Nigerians must rise up to restore democracy in Rivers State.”