The south-south governors’ forum has urged President Bola Tinubu to rescind his emergency rule declaration in Rivers state.
In a statement signed by Douye Diri, governor of Bayelsa and forum chairman, the governors said the suspension of elected officials in Rivers was a drastic measure.
They acknowledged the constitutional role of the president in maintaining law and order but implored that the constitutional role of governors to ensure peace and stability in their states be respected.
“The south-south Governors’ Forum expresses concern that the current political situation in Rivers state does not satisfy the criteria for declaring a state of emergency as outlined in Section 305(3) of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended),” the statement reads.
“This section suggests that such a declaration should be considered under specific conditions like war, external aggression, imminent invasion, breakdown of public order, existential threats to Nigeria, natural disasters, or other significant public dangers.”
The forum said the constitution provides clear procedures for the removal of elected officials.
“It is also worth noting that the constitution outlines specific procedures for the removal of a governor and deputy governor, as detailed in Section 188, and similar provisions exist for the removal of members of the house of assembly and the dissolution of parliament. In the current situation, it appears that these guidelines might not have been fully considered,” they added.
“We believe that the political disputes in Rivers State between the governor and the house of assembly should, ideally, be resolved through legal and constitutional means, rather than by executive fiat.”
The governors proposed an immediate end to the emergency rule as a step towards lasting peace and called on all parties to respect the constitution.
