Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has condemned the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by President Bola Tinubu.
DAILY POST recalls that Tinubu in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State as a result of the lingering political crisis in the state.
The development has continued to generate condemnation from stakeholders across the country.
Reacting, Amaechi, a former governor of the state said the suspension was “rather brazen and unilaterally reckless”.
In a statement on Wednesday Amaechi claimed that by the suspension of the elected officials, President Tinubu has “technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State”.
He stressed that the move “violates our Constitution, the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Mr President swore to uphold”.
The former governor pointed out that Section “188 of the Nigeria Constitution, clearly stipulates how a State Governor can be removed from office”, stating that the law “does not include a fiat declaration, decree or promulgation by President”.
He argued that the President “cannot appropriate such powers to himself”.
“A democratically elected State Governor cannot be removed from office by a proclamation of Mr President.
“The suspension of two key democratically elected arms of Government in Rivers State by Mr President evidently violates our Constitution, even within the scope and interpretation of Section 305 that the President cited in his broadcast.
“The unlawful suspension of elected democratic institutions in my dear Rivers State points to a brazen attempt at power grab in the State by forces and persons who do not have such Constitutional powers.
“The unfolding events in Rivers State in the past months, points to a clear orchestrated plot by some persons to unconstitutionally perpetrate and impose themselves on the people.
“At this inauspicious moment in our nation’s trajectory, all people of goodwill and conscience should rise to oppose this audacious violation of our Constitution and rape of our democracy. Mr President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand.
“Politicians across divides should speak up; rise to halt our nation’s descent into totalitarianism. State Governors and Legislators should speak up now. I urge the National Assembly to reject this illegality.
“The suspension is a very dangerous affront on Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy,” Amaechi said.
Rivers: An elected governor can’t be removed by proclamation – Amaechi spits fire
