Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate from the Labour Party, has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State, calling it both reckless and unconstitutional. Obi’s remarks came in response to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the state legislature for six months, accusing the president of overstepping his authority.
In a post on X, the billionaire businessman stated that President Tinubu’s unilateral decision to remove Governor Fubara from office was not only unconstitutional but also reckless. He called on the National Assembly to reject this action.
Obi further argued, “This decision has thrown us back into a state of lawlessness, undoing the progress we’ve made over the past 26 years of democratic governance. By disregarding the rule of law, the president has shown a dangerous readiness to undermine democracy.”
He described the State of Emergency as not only reckless but also an attempt to tighten the government’s grip on power, imposing a form of martial rule in a key region of the country. He questioned the necessity of such an extreme measure in Rivers State, emphasizing that the situation there does not justify it, and criticized the biased interpretation of section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
Obi emphasized that a state of emergency should not lead to the unilateral removal of an elected governor, which he argued goes against democratic principles and good governance. Instead, he saw this action as serving specific interests, rather than the collective welfare of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria.
He warned that this overreach could set a dangerous precedent, eroding democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. Obi also highlighted concerns about the ongoing issues of electoral malpractice and rule violations, asserting that such arbitrary removals of elected officials could push the nation towards chaos and anarchy.
In closing, he urged the National Assembly and all relevant stakeholders to reject the decision, stressing that it would only exacerbate the culture of impunity already undermining the country’s democracy. Obi reaffirmed his belief that “A new Nigeria is possible!”
