Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election and former governor of Anambra State, has strongly criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove Governor Similaya Fubara of Rivers State.
This followed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the region. In a post on his X account, Obi called the move both unconstitutional and reckless, arguing that it undermines Nigeria’s 26-year democratic progress and drags the country back into lawlessness.
Obi pointed out that Tinubu’s unilateral action to oust Fubara ignores the rule of law, showing a troubling readiness to weaken democracy.
He described the state of emergency as a poorly thought-out power grab, comparing it to an undercover way of imposing martial law on Rivers State, a key part of Nigeria. According to Obi, the political issues in Rivers don’t warrant such a drastic step, and Tinubu’s use of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution seems twisted to fit his agenda.
He stressed that a state of emergency doesn’t legally allow a president to single-handedly remove an elected governor. Obi sees this as a deliberate overreach, not in line with democracy or good leadership, but rather a move to benefit specific interests over the people of Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.
He warned that this sets a risky example, threatening democracy, legal order, and the balance of power between government branches.
Obi also expressed concern that letting this slide could fuel a culture of lawlessness, especially after issues like election rigging and rule-breaking already plague the system.
He urged the National Assembly and others to step in and stop this, saying it deepens Nigeria’s slide toward chaos. Closing with hope, he insisted, “A new Nigeria is possible,” calling for action to protect democracy from further damage.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Post Responsibly