The Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu, on Monday condemned the imposition of an emergency rule on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
The president, on March 18, declared a state of emergency in Rivers and suspended several individuals, including Governor Siminilayi Fubara and members of the House of Assembly, over the prolonged political crisis in the state.
He also appointed a former chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, as the state’s sole administrator.
Momodu, who featured on a Channels Television’s programme, said he and other persons “who fought for the return of democracy were embarrassed that Tinubu suspended Fubara and the state lawmakers.
He alleged that the president has been intimidating governors and opposition leaders to get their support in the 2027 election.
The journalist-turned-politician warned that Nigeria was sliding into dictatorship under Tinubu.
He said: “I think it is very unfortunate. I know President Tinubu very well. Though I’ve not been in the same party with him and all that, we were together in exile, and he fought gallantly for this democracy.
“A lot of us, his co-comrades at that time, are actually very embarrassed that we have a pro-democracy leader in government, and yet, what we are witnessing is worse than dictatorship.
“I have said it openly so many times in many open letters: you can fail in the economy, no problem; people will forgive you and say you’re not a professor of economics. You can fail in other areas, but don’t fail in democracy.
“You must deepen our democracy, which President Goodluck Jonathan succeeded in doing, which Baba Obasanjo succeeded in doing, despite allegations and accusations of a third term attempt, still managed to hand over power to President Yar’Adua.
“It is less than two years into this government, and we are witnessing crisis upon crisis, just because some people want a second term.
“I’m pleading with President Bola Tinubu, ‘please don’t kill democracy in Nigeria’. Everybody who loves him will tell him this. I’ve not asked him for anything, but we love him for his contributions to democracy in the past, which is now going down the drain.
“What I see now is an attempt to force all governors in Nigeria to follow him by fire and force. It is wrong.”
© Ripples Nigeria