Sara-Igbe Raises Alarm: ‘Tinubu Manipulating Compromised NASS To Breach Constitution

In an interview with Vanguard, Sara-Igbe described President Tinubu’s actions as a clear violation of Nigeria’s constitution. The former spokesperson of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) argued that Tinubu was able to take such measures because the National Assembly had failed in its duty to check executive excesses, rendering it no longer an independent arm of government.

Sara-Igbe warned that the developments in Rivers State are steering Nigeria towards civilian dictatorship, potentially inviting military intervention. He referenced recent statements made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, both of whom expressed concerns that democracy in Nigeria is at risk.

According to Sara-Igbe, when leaders ignore constitutional provisions, it signals a serious threat to democratic governance. He asserted that all branches of government—the executive, legislative, and judiciary—have violated the constitution in the context of the state of emergency declaration in Rivers State.

Sara-Igbe particularly noted that President Tinubu’s suspension of the governor contradicted sections 183, 188, and 189 of the constitution, which outline the process for removing a governor, emphasizing that no provision grants the president the authority to suspend or remove a sitting governor.

Additionally, he criticized the legislative process that led to the state of emergency, noting that the National Assembly failed to adhere to constitutional requirements, including obtaining a two-thirds majority vote as stipulated in Section 305.

Sara-Igbe also pointed out that the executive branch disregarded a Supreme Court ruling that instructed the government not to release funds to Rivers State without an approved budget. He accused President Tinubu of bypassing the judiciary’s judgment, attributing this to a compromised National Assembly and a weakened judiciary.

He concluded by advising President Tinubu to reconsider his actions to prevent further constitutional violations, urging him to protect both his reputation and Nigeria’s democratic system.