ABUJA, Nigeria — Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka don dey react sharply to the suspension of elected officials for Rivers State. Dem criticize the action as the potential to tarnish Nigeria’s image. On March 18, President Tinubu declare emergency state for Rivers due to governance collapse and violence against oil facilities, leading to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the House of Assembly.
President Tinubu also appointed retired Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ette Ibas, as the sole administrator for Rivers. Tinubu invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to support the declaration. Two days later, the National Assembly approved the emergency rule, but some lawmakers voice their dissent.
A host of stakeholders, including governors from the Peoples Democratic Party, the Nigerian Bar Association, and civil society organizations, have opposed this move. At the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja, Jonathan express disappointment, calling the suspension of elected officials a serious blow to democracy. “Actions by major actors in government don throw our country’s image under the bus,” he lamented.
Jonathan, who served as the chairman for the event, assert that the actions from the executive, legislature, and judiciary need reflection for the sake of Nigeria’s reputation. “The powers that be know what to do but refuse to do it; this irresponsibility must change,” he decried.
He also draw attention to his own past experience, recalling when he announced an emergency state for three North-Eastern states back in May 2013 due to Boko Haram without dismissing democratic institutions.
Soyinka echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the state of emergency as contrary to the principles of federalism. In an interview with The Africa Report, he argued that the constitution grants excessive power to the president, advocating for a national discussion on its amendment. “If it’s constitutional today, we need to rethink it for a better federal system,” he said.
On behalf of the presidency, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity Temitope Ajayi defended the president’s actions, saying Tinubu has a duty to maintain stability in Nigeria. “Opinions from respected statesmen like Jonathan and Soyinka are their own. Tinubu’s decisions are about preserving Nigeria’s corporate existence,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Aisha Yesufu, co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, alongside other activists, has demanded a reversal of the emergency rule. Speaking at a press conference, she described the president’s actions as unconstitutional. “If we let this slide, we’ll set a dangerous precedent for our democracy,” she warned.
Anthony Ubani from FixPolitics condemned the emergency rule, declaring it against the ideals of democracy. He pledged that legal actions would follow the president’s decisions. “The presidency doesn’t have the right to remove elected officials. This is dictatorial and must be resisted,” he insisted.
Meanwhile, the Take-It-Back Movement is organizing a nationwide protest on April 7 against the emergency measures, warning that such actions may lead Nigeria towards authoritarianism. National Coordinator Sanyaolu Juwon stated that the protest will contest Tinubu’s governance and the emergency declaration.
Furthermore, the Democratic Socialist Movement joined the chorus of disapproval, urging other civil society organizations to mobilize against what they termed as a coup against the people of Rivers State. “We must rise against this constitutional violation; we support any action to defend our democratic rights,” said Peluola Adewale, the movement’s National Secretary.
