Former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Amaechi described the decision as “undemocratic, unconstitutional, and a brazen violation of Nigeria’s Constitution.” He urged the National Assembly, state governors, and Nigerians to reject what he called an “illegal power grab.”
Amaechi argued that President Tinubu had exceeded his constitutional authority by suspending elected state officials. He cited Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, which outlines the impeachment process for a governor, emphasising that such actions cannot be carried out by presidential decree.
“With this singular move, Mr President has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State. This clearly violates our Constitution—the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Mr President swore to uphold,” Amaechi said.
He also questioned the president’s interpretation of Section 305, which grants him the power to declare a state of emergency. According to Amaechi, this provision does not authorise the dissolution of elected government structures.
The former governor accused certain political forces of orchestrating a takeover in Rivers State and called on stakeholders to resist what he described as an “audacious violation of democracy.”
“At this inauspicious moment in our nation’s trajectory, all people of goodwill and conscience should rise to oppose this audacious violation of our Constitution and rape of our democracy. Mr President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand,” he declared.
Amaechi, who previously served as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), commended governors who have spoken out against the suspension. He urged others to take a stand and prevent Nigeria from sliding into what he termed “totalitarianism.”
The controversy surrounding Tinubu’s emergency rule declaration in Rivers State has sparked mixed reactions. While some believe it is necessary to restore stability, critics argue that it sets a dangerous precedent that could undermine democratic governance in Nigeria.
