The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum condemned President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency in Rivers State, labeling it unconstitutional and indicative of growing political intolerance. They assert that the federal government lacks authority to dissolve elected state officials and call for the National Assembly to reverse this decision to safeguard democracy.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. This declaration involved the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu. The SMBLF criticized this action as unconstitutional and referred to it as unfortunate, alleging that the President acted on weak grounds pertaining to supposed threats from militants without conducting a thorough investigation into the governor’s involvement.
The forum highlighted that the justification for the presidential takeover illustrates a troubling trend of political intolerance in Nigeria, suggesting it may drive the country toward a one-party state. They emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution does not grant the federal government the authority to assume control of any federating state, including under the cited Section 305 (5).
The SMBLF urged residents of Rivers State and the Niger Delta to avoid violence in response to these developments, denouncing the dissolution of the State House of Assembly and the unconstitutional removal of the elected officials. They maintained that the impeachment grounds against Governor Fubara and his deputy mirrored the reasons put forth by the President for his actions, reinforcing their argument against the increasing culture of intolerance.
The group accused President Tinubu of orchestrating the downfall of a democratically elected government in favor of installing a sole administrator, which would effectively hand Rivers State’s control to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers Governor. They reiterated that Section 11 (4) of the Constitution only allows for federal intervention when a state legislature cannot function but does not permit the removal of sitting governors.
Moreover, SMBLF noted that members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who recently switched allegiance to the President’s party, played a role in the assembly’s dysfunction. They underscored that President Jonathan had previously declared emergencies without dissolving democratic structures, exemplifying a more constitutional approach.
The SMBLF asserted that security issues, such as pipeline vandalism, are within the remit of federal security agencies rather than the state governor, thus criticizing the President for blaming Governor Fubara for these lapses. They lamented that the President’s decision to dismiss the elected government in favor of appointing a military administrator represents a troubling return to past autocratic practices.
The SMBLF has called upon the National Assembly to exercise its constitutional authority to overturn what they describe as a despotic decision. They expressed profound concern that these actions could jeopardize the democratic framework of Nigeria, urging a swift response to avert a regression to the country’s troubled historical context.
In summary, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has raised significant objections to President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, labeling the action as unconstitutional and detrimental to Nigeria’s democratic governance. They highlighted the importance of adhering to constitutional provisions regarding federal intervention and emphasized the risks of political intolerance and instability. The forum has called for legislative action to counteract the President’s decision and restore democratic principles in the affected state.
Original Source: punchng.com
