Tinubu’s Emergency In Rivers Faces Fierce Criticism From Ex-Minister Nweke

While the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, clarified on Wednesday that the President acted within his constitutional rights, and that the emergency measure was intended to shield Governor Siminalayi Fubara from impeachment attempts, Nweke remains critical.

In his statement, Nweke acknowledged that the President’s justifications may seem reasonable, but he questioned the lack of attention to the root causes of the political crisis in Rivers State.

“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Tinubu is a concerning development. While the reasons stated by the President may be plausible, the failure to address the underlying issues that led to the political crisis raises doubts and suggests a departure from constitutional order and legal precedents,” Nweke said.

He further emphasized that the political tensions in Rivers have prevented the state’s progress since May 2023. Nweke believes that engaging directly with the parties involved and adhering to constitutional principles could have resolved the issues before they escalated.

He lamented the ongoing erosion of democratic values in Nigeria, saying, “Nigerians continue to be deprived of the benefits of democracy due to the actions of political power brokers.”

Nweke also critiqued the deterioration of the country’s governance over the last 26 years, calling for a return to effective democratic practices. “Iconoclasm, as state policy, should have no place in a constitutional democracy,” he concluded.