Olusegun Ariyo
The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected the declaration of a State of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
The main opposition party said the President lacks the authority to suspend a democratically elected governor.
PDP stated this in a statement issued by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, its National Publicity Secretary, where it conveyed its reaction to President Tinubu’s decision to suspend Governor Fubara and his deputy for a period of six months.
It said that by announcing a state of emergency in Rivers State, President Tinubu has acted in blatant violation of the 1999 Constitution.
“The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and indeed, Nigerians listened with dismay to the national broadcast by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in which the President, in utter violation of the 1999 Constitution pronounced an imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
“The PDP outrightly rejects this attempt by the President to override the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and undermine the votes and Will of the people of Rivers State by seeking to depose a democratic government and foist an undemocratic rule in the State.
“The unconstitutional declaration by President Tinubu of the suspension of the democratically elected Governor of Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and appointment of an unelected individual, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to govern the State is a clear attack on our nation’s democracy, an abrogation of the votes and democratic right of the people of Rivers State to choose their leader under the Constitution.
“The action of Mr. President therefore clearly borders on an attempt at state capture. It is the climax of a well-oiled plot to forcefully take over Rivers State for which the All-Progressives Congress (APC) has been bent on stoking crisis to ensure that democracy is ultimately truncated in the State.
“Nigerians are invited to note that the situation in Rivers State and the reasons adduced by the President cannot justify the declaration of a state of emergency in the State under the 1999 Constitution, rendering the declaration completely incompetent.
“The PDP alerts that the unwarranted imposition of emergency rule in Rivers State is part of the larger vicious plot to foist a siege mentality across Nigeria, decimate the opposition, impose a totalitarian one-party State and turn the country into a fiefdom.
“In any case, nothing in Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution relied upon by the President in the declaration grants him the exclusive powers to declare or execute the declaration of a state of emergency without recourse to the statutory approval of the National Assembly.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 305 (2) provides that “The President shall immediately after the publication, transmit copies of the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation including the details of the emergency to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for a meeting of the House of which he is President or Speaker, as the case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the proclamation.
“Mr President should recognize that his order to an unelected individual to forthwith take over the government of Rivers State is illegal and a clear recipe for the crisis, a threat to the peace and stability of not only Rivers State but the entire nation.
“For emphasis, Governor Fubara was democratically elected for a tenure of four years which tenure cannot be unconstitutionally abridged.
“The PDP therefore cautions Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd) to respect the Constitution and ensure that he does not take any action or step which is capable of derailing smooth democratic Governance in Rivers State. Nigeria is not under a military rule where the Governance of a State is by appointment by a junta,” the party said.
