Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as unconstitutional and an attack on democracy.
Amaechi, who governed Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, released a statement on Wednesday, criticizing the decision to suspend the state’s elected leaders, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for six months. He warned that the action was a dangerous precedent that undermines Nigeria’s democratic process.
On Tuesday, President Tinubu announced a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing escalating political tensions and attacks on oil pipelines. According to the president, these disturbances posed a serious threat to national security, necessitating federal intervention.
“This situation is deeply concerning, following violent incidents targeting oil pipelines, which are closely linked to the political crisis in the state. The federal government had no choice but to take this decisive action,” Tinubu stated.
However, the move has sparked nationwide criticism, with many viewing it as an abuse of executive power. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum have both condemned the president’s action, arguing that it violates the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, which does not grant the president the authority to unilaterally remove an elected governor.
In his reaction, Amaechi accused Tinubu of exceeding his constitutional powers and violating Nigeria’s democratic principles.
“The president has no authority to remove an elected governor. The Constitution is clear on how a governor can be removed from office, and this action is a direct breach of those provisions,” Amaechi said.
Citing Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, he emphasized that a governor can only be removed through impeachment by the state legislature, not by a presidential decree. He also referenced Section 305, which outlines the conditions under which a state of emergency can be declared, arguing that Tinubu’s justification does not meet the constitutional requirements.
Amaechi further described the suspension of Rivers State’s elected officials as an illegal attempt to seize control of the state’s political structure.
“This is a blatant effort to impose control over Rivers State. The people of the state elected their leaders, and any attempt to remove them outside the constitutional process is a direct attack on democracy,” he said.
He warned that similar actions could be taken in other states, further eroding Nigeria’s federal system and undermining democratic governance.
Amaechi called on Nigerians, political leaders, and civil society organizations to resist what he described as an unlawful act.
“We must all rise against this illegal move. Nigerians must challenge this undemocratic action and protect our constitutional democracy,” he urged.
He also called on state governors and lawmakers to reject the decision, stressing that it sets a dangerous precedent for executive overreach.
“As a former governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, I know that governors play a crucial role in upholding democracy. I commend those governors who have spoken against this injustice and urge others to join the fight to restore constitutional order.”
Amaechi warned that failure to resist this move could embolden future leaders to dismantle Nigeria’s democratic institutions, turning the country into an autocratic state.
Several opposition leaders, legal experts, and activists have criticized Tinubu’s decision, arguing that it undermines the rule of law and the democratic process. The PDP Governors’ Forum has vowed to challenge the decision in court, while the NBA has described it as an unconstitutional power grab.
As the political crisis deepens, all eyes are on the National Assembly and judiciary, as stakeholders expect them to intervene and uphold the country’s democratic framework.
The suspension of Rivers State’s government has escalated political tensions in Nigeria, with concerns over democratic backsliding. Amaechi and other critics insist that the move is unconstitutional and must be reversed, while the presidency maintains that it is necessary for national security.
The coming days will determine whether Nigeria’s judiciary, lawmakers, and civil society will successfully challenge the decision or if it will set a new precedent for federal intervention in state governance.
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