Peter Obi Condemns Tinubu’s Suspension Of Fubara, Says President Actions Shows Dangerous Willingness To Trample On Democracy.
2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, calling it unconstitutional and reckless.
In a statement released through his verified X handle, Obi said the move has plunged Nigeria back into lawlessness and undermined 26 years of democratic progress.
“By disregarding the rule of law, the President has shown a dangerous willingness to trample on democracy,” Obi stated.
He also condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, arguing that it was an unjustified measure aimed at consolidating power.
“This is a degrading backdoor imposition of martial rule on a strategic part of the federation,” he said.
“The political situation in Rivers does not warrant such an extreme step, and it is a biased interpretation of section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution.”
Obi stressed that a state of emergency does not give the President the power to unilaterally remove an elected governor. He warned that the action sets a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers.
“If left unchecked, it will foster a culture of impunity,” he warned. “We are already grappling with electoral irregularities and massive rigging. The arbitrary removal of elected officials will push us further into anarchy.”
Obi called on the National Assembly and other stakeholders to intervene, urging them to prevent the deepening of what he described as an emerging culture of impunity and lawlessness.
“A new Nigeria is possible,” he concluded.
It would be recalled that President Tinubu suspended the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and House of Assembly members over what he described as instability in the state.
His actions have however been condemned far, wide and near in the country.
Tinubu stated that the ongoing crisis has brought governance in Rivers State to a standstill.
“With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state. The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy.”
He blamed Governor Fubara for demolishing the Rivers State House of Assembly, calling the action unjustifiable.
