Pro-democracy coalition petitions ECOWAS, demands reversal of emergency rule in Rivers

The Concerned Nigerians in Defence of Democratic Governance, a pro-democracy coalition, has petitioned the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the emergency rule in Rivers state.

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 Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state; 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.

‘DANGEROUS PRECEDENT FOR WEST AFRICA‘

In a letter dated March 24 and addressed to Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS commission, the coalition said the emergency rule is unconstitutional and sets a “dangerous precedent” for democratic governance in Nigeria and the West African region.

“This has implications for how the West African subregion will fare in the future,” the petition reads.

“Permit us to point out that the political crises that led to the formation of the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES) and the subsequent exit of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) did not emanate at the national levels of these nation-states; the crises began as issues at the subnational levels of these countries before escalating to national challenges that provoked military interventions.

“At the core of the disintegration, staring ECOWAS in the face is the serial injustices that national governments unleash on the constituent units of each nation.

“The sub-region has looked to Nigeria to play a pivotal role in managing the fallouts of the political situation created by this ugly development.

“Your Excellency, the threat to democratic expression in Nigeria has become so bad that the remaining 35 governors, through the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), have come out to openly declare that they will not interfere in President Tinubu’s dictatorial imposition of emergency rule.”

The coalition said if ECOWAS fails to act, the situation could escalate into a major crisis.

They urged ECOWAS to demand the immediate reinstatement of Fubara and other suspended officials in the state.

The petition was jointly signed by Aliyu Tanko, Bello Adamu, Nnamdi Ekwueme, Nicholas Upelle, Sadiq Alao and
Oche Oche.