SMBLF Condemns Tinubu’s State of Emergency in Rivers State as Unconstitutional
The SMBLF has denounced President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency in Rivers State, labeling it unconstitutional. They argue it exemplifies political intolerance and could lead Nigeria toward a one-party state. The forum urges citizens to maintain peace and calls upon the National Assembly to overturn the president’s actions.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which includes the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu. The forum, represented by leaders from various groups, labeled the actions as unconstitutional and referred to them as an unfortunate termination of a democratically elected administration.
SMBLF highlighted the president’s reliance on alleged threats from militants to justify the emergency declaration, arguing there was no investigation into the governor’s involvement in any wrongdoing. They criticized this as an expression of political intolerance and a move towards diminishing multi-party democracy in Nigeria.
The forum asserted that the Nigerian Constitution does not afford the Federal Government the authority to assume control over any state, and they specifically challenged the legitimacy of using Section 305 (5) as the basis for such an action. They cautioned the citizens of Rivers State and the Niger Delta to respond peacefully to this “unfortunate development.”
In their statement, the SMBLF condemned the emergency declaration and the dissolution of the State House of Assembly, viewing it as a harmful precedent. They noted that the reasons cited for the governor’s impeachment echoed the justifications for the federal takeover, reinforcing their claim of unconstitutional conduct.
Furthermore, the SMBLF accused President Tinubu of facilitating the ousting of an elected government to place a sole administrator in power, a situation they argue benefits Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State. They reiterated that federal intervention is only warranted when a state legislature is incapacitated, which does not equate to the removal of a sitting governor or deputy.
The group illustrated their arguments by referencing how members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who had defected to the President’s party amid legal disputes over their status, are contributing to the Assembly’s dysfunction. They contrasted this with previous emergency declarations that preserved democratic structures.
Moreover, the SMBLF criticized Tinubu’s attribution of security failures, such as pipeline vandalism, to Governor Fubara, asserting these issues fall under the purview of federal security agencies. The forum warned that the President’s actions replicate historical injustices that threaten Nigeria’s democratic framework.
The SMBLF urged the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional powers to annul the president’s actions, denouncing them as despotic and reflective of a troubling historical pattern that jeopardizes democratic governance in Nigeria.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum vehemently opposes President Tinubu’s emergency declaration in Rivers State, highlighting its unconstitutional nature and the potential erosion of democracy. They argue that such actions constitute political intolerance and may lead Nigeria toward a dangerous trend of a one-party state. Moreover, the SMBLF calls for legislative intervention to prevent further dismantling of elected governance and uphold constitutional integrity.
Original Source: punchng.com
