Rivers Emergency Rule: Amaechi Urges Nigerians To Reject ‘Audacious Violation Of Democracy’
Former governor of Rivers State and a one-time Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has condemned the declaration of state of emergency in the Treasure Base of the Nation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He also picked holes in the decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the former governor in a statement he issued on Wednesday described the steps taken by the president as ‘undemocratic, unconstitutional, and a brazen violation of the nation’s Constitution’.
He has urged Nigerians including members of the National Assembly, state governors, and other stakeholders to reject what he called ‘illegal power grab’.
Amaechi , who cited Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, argued that a governor can only be removed through a clearly defined impeachment process, not by presidential decree.
‘With this singular move, Mr. President has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State. This clearly violates our Constitution, the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Mr. President swore to uphold’ Amaechi said.
He also said Section 305, which allows the president to declare a state of emergency does not grant him the power to ‘dissolve elected arms of government’.
‘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 a rape of our democracy. Mr. President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand’ he submitted.
Amaechi, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), commended serving governors who have condemned the decision taken by the president, while urging other Nigerians to join in rejecting the action taken by the president in order to prevent ‘Nigeria’s descent into totalitarianism’-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
