Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it both unconstitutional and reckless. Obi urged the National Assembly to intervene and withhold legislative support for what he described as an abuse of executive power.
In a tweet on his X handle on Wednesday, Obi condemned the President’s decision and the removal of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, warning that such actions could foster a dangerous culture of impunity and undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
Obi wrote: “The unilateral decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara from office is not only unconstitutional but also reckless. It has thrown us back into lawlessness, undoing the progress we have made in 26 years of democratic governance. By disregarding the rule of law, the President has shown a dangerous willingness to trample on democracy. The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers is not just reckless; it’s an attempt to tighten his grip on power at all costs.”
He argued that the situation in Rivers State did not warrant such extreme measures, calling the interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution biased.
Obi emphasized that a state of emergency does not give the President the power to remove an elected Governor, asserting that the action goes against democratic principles and good governance.
Obi’s statement adds to the growing criticism of Tinubu’s decision, sparking a wider debate among political leaders, civil society groups, and legal experts about its impact on governance and constitutional democracy.
