UPDATED: Atiku, Obi, others urge N’Assembly to reject Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, along with his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, and other opposition leaders, have called on the National Assembly to oppose President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Atiku, speaking on behalf of the opposition leaders at a press conference at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Thursday, accused Tinubu of favouritism and the improper use of Section 305 regarding the state of emergency.

He stated, “We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately revoke this unconstitutional proclamation and reinstate the elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and State Assembly of Rivers State.

“We call on patriotic Senators and Representatives to vote against this illegal action when it comes before them for approval.

“The National Assembly must stand on the right side of history and not allow itself to be used to legitimise an unconstitutional power grab.”

Atiku also called on Nigerians to resist and urged the judiciary to strike out the President’s declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State.

The former Vice President accused President Tinubu of favouritism and improperly using Section 305 regarding the State of Emergency.

“We urge the judiciary to act swiftly in striking down this proclamation, as it sets a dangerous precedent that could be used to arbitrarily remove any Governor in the future,” he stated.

As stated by Atiku, the political stakeholders described Tinubu’s actions as both unlawful and a direct undermining of democracy, as well as an imposition of autocratic federal control over a legitimately elected state government.

He continued, “We strongly condemn this development and call on all Nigerians of good conscience to resist this brazen assault on the constitution of our country and the institutions of our democracy.

“Mr President’s illegal and unconstitutional proclamation was presumably driven by the protracted insidious political crisis in Rivers State, which culminated in the recent ruling of the Supreme Court.

“Naturally, we expected all parties to the dispute to follow laid-down procedures and in good faith, to promptly implement the judgment of the highest court of the land. We note that despite provocative statements and belligerent attitude of his opponents, Governor Fubara had demonstrated goodwill and appeared disposed to the implementation of the ruling of the Supreme Court.”

The former vice president pointed out that if the problem was the dysfunction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the President could have urged the National Assembly to step in under Section 11 of the Constitution rather than declaring a state of emergency.

Atiku and other opposition political figures claimed that “This State of Emergency declaration is not about security, it is about power grabbing and control. The disagreements within Rivers State stem from the defection of 27 Assembly members from the PDP to the APC, their loss of seats under constitutional provisions, and the subsequent political manoeuvring to undermine the Governor’s mandate.

While reviewing the stakeholders’ demands, Atiku stated, “We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately revoke this unconstitutional proclamation and reinstate the elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and State Assembly of Rivers State.

“We call on patriotic Senators and Representatives to vote against this illegal action when it comes before them for approval. The National Assembly must stand on the right side of history and not allow itself to be used to legitimise an unconstitutional power grab.

“We call on all civil society organisations, political groups, and Nigerians of good conscience to stand firm in the defence of this democracy that we have all toiled to build. Rivers State is not a conquered territory, and Nigeria is not a dictatorship requiring the replacement of an elected Governor with a military administrator.”

When asked if it was illegal when former President Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he served as Deputy, declared a State of Emergency in Plateau and Ekiti, Atiku directed the question to the former Kaduna State Governor, El-Rufai.

In his response, the chieftain of the Social Democratic Party, El-Rufai, stated that the Supreme Court had overturned Obasanjo’s declaration.

He said, “It is true that in those two cases, the Governors were suspended. These suspensions were challenged in court, and in 2006, the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave a judgment. Although the Governors were restored to office, the court rebuked the Obasanjo administration, stating that under no circumstances should the emergency provisions under Section 305 be used to remove any elected official.

“That is the law. The Supreme Court has ruled on it, and no legislation or constitutional amendment has changed that. No one, no person, or authority can remove an elected official without going through the due process by impeachment.

“That is the way an elected person can be removed. So, you cannot tamper with the will of the people. What President Tinubu has done is violently unconstitutional and unlawful.”

Recall that Rivers State has been engulfed in political instability for nearly two years as former Governor Nyesom Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, vie for supremacy, leading to a governance deadlock in the oil-rich state.

As a result, the President declared a state of emergency in the state on Tuesday during a nationwide broadcast.

He stressed the need for order and suspended Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state House of Assembly for six months.

Additionally, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas was appointed as the state’s administrator.

Within hours of the declaration, military forces took control of the Rivers Government House in Port Harcourt.

While Fubara expressed his concerns and called for calm, the state House of Assembly supported the President’s decision.

Other opposition leaders present at the ongoing press conference include Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who is represented by Yunusa Tanko, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh, and Convenor of the Alternative, Segun Showunmi, among others.

Among those whose apologies were announced are former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, among others.