Former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has condemned President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent suspension of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, and members of the State House of Assembly.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Amaechi described the suspension as a brazen and unilateral act that undermines democracy and violates the Nigerian Constitution.
Amaechi, who governed Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, argued that Tinubu’s actions amount to a technical suspension of democracy in the state.
He emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution, which the President swore to uphold, clearly outlines the process for removing a state governor under Section 188, which does not include any provision for a presidential decree or proclamation.
Amaechi stated that the President’s suspension of two key democratically elected arms of government in Rivers State clearly violates the Constitution, even under the scope and interpretation of Section 305 cited in the President’s broadcast.
He described the move as an unlawful power grab by forces attempting to impose themselves on the people of Rivers State without constitutional legitimacy.
Amaechi pointed to the recent political unrest in Rivers State as evidence of a coordinated effort to weaken democratic institutions.
He urged all Nigerians of goodwill and conscience to stand against what he called an “audacious violation of the Constitution and a rape of our democracy.”
He urged politicians across party lines, state governors, legislators, and the National Assembly to reject the illegality and halt the nation’s descent into totalitarianism.
The statement read, “Unequivocally, I condemn the rather brazen and unilaterally reckless suspension and removal of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“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.
“Section 188 of the Nigeria Constitution clearly stipulates how a State Governor can be removed from office. And it does not include a fiat declaration, decree or promulgation by Mr. President. Therefore, he cannot appropriate such powers to himself.
“A democratically elected State Governor cannot be removed from office by a proclamation of Mr. President. The suspension of two key democratically elected arms of Government in Rivers State by Mr. President evidently violates our Constitution, even within the scope and interpretation of Section 305 that the President cited in his broadcast.
“The unlawful suspension of elected democratic institutions in my dear Rivers State points to a brazen attempt at power grab in the State by forces and persons who do not have such Constitutional powers.
“The unfolding events in Rivers State in the past months points to a clear orchestrated plot by some persons to unconstitutionally perpetrate and impose themselves on the people.”
“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 rape of our democracy. Mr President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand,” he said.
He stated, “Politicians across divides should speak up; rise to halt our nation’s descent into totalitarianism. State Governors and Legislators should speak up now. I urge the National Assembly to reject this illegality.
“As a former State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), I am not unaware of the role elected Governors in the country can play to halt this descent and reverse the unlawful actions of Mr. President. I commend the Governors that have spoken against the unlawful suspension.
“The suspension is a very dangerous affront on Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy,” Ameachi added
