Rivers Emergency Rule: Tinubu’s action an affront on democratic governance, rule of law in Nigeria – Southeast Group
By Oswald Agwu, Abakaliki
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations under the umbrella of Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Southeast zone, has demanded an apology from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the recent state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
The group also demanded immediate reversal of the order which it described as unconstitutional and authoritarian.
The CSOs made the demand in a press conference it addressed on Monday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital.
The press conference was anchored by the Southeast representative of the Situation Room, Oliver Chima Ajah and endorsed by over 20 southeast member organisations in attendance.
Reading out the group’s position to newsmen, Ajah who is also the Executive Director of Development and Integrity Intervention Goal Foundation, maintained that the action of the president was an affront on constitutional democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.
He further described the President’s suspension of democratically elected governance and appointment of a sole administrator in Rivers State as both unlawful, reckless and authoritarian, stressing that the action endangers the progress Nigeria has made in strengthening democratic governance since 1999.
Ajah said: “The arbitrary removal of elected officials in Rivers State undermines the principles of federalism and sets a dangerous precedent where the federal government can unlawfully take over the governance of any state under flimsy pretexts.
“We therefore reject this reckless and unlawful suspension of elected officials and democratic institutions in Rivers State.
“There is no constitutional or moral justification for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
“The President must immediately revoke this declaration and restore constitutional order in the State by reinstating all the elected officials.
“We demand the President to publicly apologize to the people of Rivers State and Nigeria for violating their democratic rights and unlawfully usurping the powers of their elected leaders.”
The group further called on the Judiciary and relevant stakeholders to act to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy by ensuring that the President’s unconstitutional actions are condemned and that no such overreach is permitted in the future.
Among the organizations that were present at the press conference are Development & Integrity Intervention Goal Foundation, International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC), Da’wah and Guidance Bureau of Nigeria (DGBN), Initiative for Social Change in Africa (VOFCA), Community Outreach and Public Empowerment (COPE) Foundation, Initiative for Good Governance and Sustainable Development, Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC).
Others included Agents of Communication and Development (A-CODE), Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD); Initiative for Gender Inclusion and Transformation Advocates (IGITA) and Faith Community Counselling Organization among others.
