‘Everything has been knocked down’ — Obi says democracy collapsing with Fubara’s suspension

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023, says Nigeria’s democracy is collapsing over the suspension of Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state.

Obi spoke on Monday at the 60th birthday anniversary colloquium of Emeka Ihedioha, the former deputy speaker of the house of representatives.

BACKGROUND

Last Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, citing the protracted political crisis and vandalisation of oil facilities.

The president suspended Fubara, Ngozi Odu, his deputy, and all house of assembly members for six months.

Tinubu also appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator for Rivers state.

On Thursday, the senate and the house of representatives controversially ratified Tinubu’s request for the emergency rule.

Several stakeholders, including the South-South Governors’ Forum, have condemned the emergency rule.

‘PRESIDENCY INTERVENED WHEN I WAS IMPEACHED’

Speaking during a panel discussion at the event, Obi recalled how the presidency attempted to intervene when the Anambra house of assembly impeached him as governor.

The Anambra house of assembly impeached Obi as the governor on November 2, 2006. The court reinstated him in February 2007 after he challenged the impeachment.

He said former President Olusegun Obasanjo who governed the country at the time, dispatched a delegation in an attempt to halt his impeachment.

Obi said Nigeria’s democracy which has been progressing since 1999 is now being “knocked down” by the current administration.

“Some people came and knocked everything down. That is the situation we are in now. Everything has been knocked down. Nothing works,” he said.

“I became a governor through the court when President Obasanjo and Atiku were in government.

“I did not pay the court one naira. I was sitting in my office, and the court declared me the winner. It can’t happen in Nigeria today.

“When I was being impeached, the president sent people to come and intervene on my behalf. Ken Nnamani came, begging the house (house of assembly) not to impeach me.

“Today, the president (Tinubu) is impeaching a person (Fubara).

“They were in PDP; I was in APGA. The president was calling and saying, ‘Peter, are you okay? Even when I was impeached, President Obasanjo called and said, ‘Are you okay? Are you safe?

“When the court eventually declared me (the winner) under Andy Uba (as governor), President Yar’Adua called my phone in London and said, ‘Come back. I said, President, I can’t come back.

“When I came back, the military people came and received me at the airport. I couldn’t believe it. And took me straight to him.

“Now, the president would ask me not to come back. Democracy is collapsing.”

On May 18, 2004, Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in Plateau state following violent ethnic and religious clashes.

He suspended Joshua Dariye, the governor, and the state legislature, appointing a retired general, Chris Alli, as the state’s sole administrator.