Northern Groups Condemn Rivers State Of Emergency

A coalition of the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room in the Northwest Zone has condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The zonal coalition said the state of emergency is a direct violation of Nigeria’s democratic principles and the rule of law, describing the declaration as an unconstitutional overreach by the federal government.

They expressed deep concerns over the arbitrary removal of elected officials in Rivers State and the subsequent appointment of a sole administrator, which they argue undermines the sovereignty of the state and the will of the people.

According to the representative of the Situation Room Northwest Zone, Samuel Joshua Bamaiyi, the action by the president is a violation of constitutional rights and sets a dangerous precedent for future governance in Nigeria.

“The arbitrary suspension of elected officials and the imposition of a sole administrator is illegal, unconstitutional, and completely unacceptable,” Bamaiyi stated.

The civil society groups said that Nigerians in Rivers State had exercised their constitutional right to elect their leaders, and the federal government’s interference violates the democratic choices made by the citizens.

They warned that if allowed to stand, this unlawful action could pave the way for further authoritarian measures across the country, undermining democratic institutions that have been painstakingly built since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

In light of this, the group demands an immediate reversal of the state of emergency, a public apology to the people of Rivers and Nigeria, as well as the protection of democratic institutions, stressing the need for stronger safeguards against future overreach by the federal government.

“The Judiciary and relevant stakeholders must 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,” they stated.

They urged all Nigerians, political parties, and civil society groups to unite in rejecting the unlawful suspension of elected officials, stating that the continued defense of democracy is crucial for the stability of Nigeria’s political system.

“We must not allow political expediency to trump democracy. Rivers State’s democratic rights must be upheld,” they said

Northern Groups Condemn Rivers State Of Emergency is first published on The Whistler Newspaper