*Urge Nigerians, political groups, CSOs to defend nation’s democracy
By Folorunso Alagbede, in Abuja
Key opposition figures in the country, led by former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, have called on President Bola Tinubu to rescind his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and the State Assembly members.
The opposition leaders similarly called on the members of the National Assembly to reject the said declaration.
The coalition of opposition leaders, which included the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi and the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai among others said this on Thursday at a press conference it addressed addressed in Abuja.
The opposition leaders urged 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.
At the press conference addressed by Alhaji Atiku at the Shehu Musa. Yar’Adua centre, Abuja, on behalf of others, the coalition called on Nigerians , the civil society Organizations, political groups and others to rise in defense of the nation’s Democracy.
The opposition leaders, in the text of their address read by Atiku, said, “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 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.
“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.
“We recall that even when a previous administration had declared a state of emergency in parts of the country bedevilled by insurgency and acts of terrorism, the governors of the concerned states were not removed from office as this administration has done.
‘This action, by President Tinubu therefore represents a new low for our country”, they declared.
The opposition leaders warned that the
historical unrest in the Niger Delta should not be forgotten so soon.
According to them, “Past administrations had made great efforts and sacrifices to restore peace and stability to the Niger Delta, which is critical to the economic health and stability of Nigeria itself.
“This federal government should not manufacture political crises that could disrupt the fragile stability and return the country to the past that we have all prayed to leave behind for good.
“We must never allow personal political interests and the desire to hold on to power at all costs to throw the country into unavoidable chaos through brazen subversion of the principles of federalism, democracy, and constitutional governance.
“This is not just about Rivers State it is about the future of Nigeria’s democracy.
Other notable attendees included former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal; National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties, Peter Ahmeh; and the Convener of the Alternative, Segun Showunmi, among others.
