As well meaning Nigerians continue to lament what they considered illegality over the state of emergency in Rivers State, and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, as well as members of the State House of Assembly for six months by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday based on the political turbulence in the state. The president’s declaration was affirmed by National Assembly yesterday at the plenary.
President Tinubu however swiftly sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas, rtd, as the Sole Administrator for the state after his declaration without the Rivers stakeholders.
Meanwhile, in his reaction to this, the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, in his biweekly newsletter, The Business of Governance Issue 110, published on Thursday evening, criticized the action of President Tinubu, noting that the suspension of democracy in the state through the declaration of a state of emergency is an illegal act which lovers of democracy should not support.
His words: “I stand today to say that the declaration of the state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government by the presidency is an illegality that right-thinking members of society must oppose.
“Our democratic tenets must never be trifled with, no matter our personal feelings and loyalties. This is the time to take a stand for fairness, equity and justice.
“As our democracy grows and unfolds, we must also be willing to speak up when we see anything that threatens our development as a nation. We must choose to stand up for what is right, even if it means standing alone.
“I am glad that our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party, is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership. Yesterday (Wednesday), the PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Tinubu in a Court of competent jurisdiction. We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.”
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