The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has urged Nigeria’s National Assembly to reverse Siminalayi Fubara’s removal as Rivers State Governor, describing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state as reckless and unconstitutional.
Obi made this known in a statement released on his X account on Wednesday.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, made the comment following President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday.
Media Talk Africa recalls that Tinubu cited unresolved crises, a breakdown of law and order, insecurity, and an explosion as reasons for his decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers.
He further suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, for six months.
President Tinubu announced that Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas is the administrator of Rivers State.
Tinubu’s decision has sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians.
Reacting, Obi said Tinubu’s decision would plunge the country back into a state of lawlessness.
He, therefore, called on the National Assembly and other stakeholders to overturn President Tinubu’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
“The unilateral decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State from office is not only unconstitutional but also reckless.
It has plunged us back into a state of lawlessness, undoing the progress we have made in these 26 years of democracy.
By disregarding the rule of law, the President has shown a dangerous willingness to trample on democracy,” he said.
“I appeal to the National Assembly and all stakeholders not to allow this to stand, as it only deepens the culture of impunity and brigandage already threatening our democracy,” he added.
