The 2023 presidential candidate for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it a direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
In a statement shared on his official X handle on Friday, Kwankwaso condemned the president’s actions, labeling them unconstitutional and a threat to the nation’s democratic integrity.
Kwankwaso took particular issue with the suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire elected state assembly.
He expressed deep concern over the swift endorsement of the president’s proclamation by the National Assembly, accusing lawmakers of failing in their duty to check the executive’s power.
“I am deeply disturbed by President Tinubu’s unilateral decision to suspend Governor Fubara and all elected officials of Rivers State,” Kwankwaso remarked. “The legislature has a critical responsibility to hold the executive accountable. Unfortunately, this 10th Assembly seems to have lost its spine, acting as little more than a rubber stamp for the executive branch.”
Kwankwaso went on to denounce the National Assembly’s rapid ratification of the emergency rule, particularly criticizing the use of a voice vote to pass such an important decision. “The Constitution is clear on the process for voting on issues of such magnitude,” he noted. “The use of a voice vote is a gross violation of proper procedure and transparency.”
Turning to the judiciary, Kwankwaso called on legal institutions to stand firm and resist external pressures, warning that it was their responsibility to uphold constitutional integrity and ensure justice is served impartially. “Our judiciary must rise to the occasion and protect the constitutional order,” he emphasized. “Legal bodies must be fair to all parties involved, ensuring judgments are free from external influence.”
The former Governor of Kano State also expressed alarm over the involvement of the military in governance, stressing that Nigeria has worked too hard to establish democratic stability since its return to civilian rule in 1999. “For a president who prides himself on being a steadfast defender of democracy, President Tinubu’s move to bring the military into political leadership is both reckless and dangerous,” Kwankwaso warned. “We must remember the progress President Obasanjo made by keeping the military confined to their barracks. Tinubu should know better than to flirt with military intervention after all we’ve worked to achieve.”
Kwankwaso further cautioned that the president’s actions could set a perilous precedent, cultivating a culture of impunity. “The political climate in Rivers State does not justify this blatant misinterpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution,” he argued. “If left unchecked, this could encourage a dangerous disregard for the rule of law.”
Kwankwaso’s statement is a sharp reminder of the ongoing tensions surrounding the balance of power in Nigeria, as the country continues to grapple with the delicate task of maintaining democratic principles in the face of executive overreach.
