‘Brazen attempt at power grab’ — Amaechi knocks Tinubu over emergency rule in Rivers

Rotimi Amaechi, former governor of Rivers, has criticised President Bola Tinubu for declaring an emergency rule in the state. 

Amaechi said the suspension of elected democratic institutions in my Rivers points to a “brazen attempt at power grab in the state”.

On Tuesday, the president declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the protracted political crisis and instability in the state.

Tinubu suspended the governor, his deputy and the state assembly members. He also nominated Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the administrator of Rivers state.

The president’s proclamation has been met with mixed reactions across the political divide.

In a statement on Wednesday, Amaechi, a former presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the crisis in Rivers was being “orchestrated” to serve the interests of certain individuals seeking to impose themselves on the state.

He called on politicians and lawmakers to reject the suspension of elected officials, urging the national assembly to act.

He insisted that the removal of a governor must follow constitutional procedures and warned that allowing Tinubu’s decision to stand could set a dangerous precedent for the country’s democracy.

“Unequivocally, I condemn the rather brazen and unilaterally reckless suspension and removal of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Amaechi said.

“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.

“Section 188 of the Nigeria Constitution, clearly stipulates how a State Governor can be removed from office. And it does not include a fiat declaration, decree or promulgation by Mr. President. Therefore, he cannot appropriate such powers to himself.

“A democratically elected State Governor cannot be removed from office by a proclamation of Mr. President. The suspension of two key democratically elected arms of Government in Rivers State by Mr. President evidently violates our Constitution, even within the scope and interpretation of Section 305 that the President cited in his broadcast.

“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,” Amaechi said.

“Mr President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand.

“State Governors and Legislators should speak up now. I urge the National Assembly to reject this illegality.”