Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it “unconstitutional and reckless.” Obi accused Tinubu of disregarding the rule of law and threatening democracy.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!In a statement, Obi said the declaration “is not just reckless—it is a clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten its grip on power at all costs.” He argued that the political situation in Rivers does not justify the emergency rule and the suspension of Governor Siminlayi Fubara, his deputy, and state lawmakers.
Obi asserted that the action is a biased interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution, stating, “A state of emergency does not mean an elected Governor can be removed unilaterally.” He warned that this decision sets a dangerous precedent, threatening democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers.
Obi appealed to the National Assembly and stakeholders to prevent the emergency rule from standing, emphasizing that it will deepen the culture of impunity and threaten democracy.