Former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has condemned the imposition of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as a step towards entrenching anarchy in the country.
Obi who reacted to the imposition of the rule which also saw the President suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy and members of the State House of Assembly, said the move was unconstitutional and a reckless display of executive lawlessness.
In a statement he shared on his official X handle on Wednesday, Obi said the imposition of the rule has plunged Nigeria back into lawlessness and undermined 26 years of democratic progress, arguing that it was an unjustified measure aimed at consolidating power by the APC-led government.
Obi emphasized that a state of emergency does not give the President the power to unilaterally remove an elected governor, warning that the action sets a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers.
“The unilateral decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove Governor Similaya Fubara of Rivers State from office is not only unconstitutional but also reckless,” he wrote.
“It has plunged us back into a state of lawlessness, hugely undoing the progress we have made in these 26 years of democratic journey.
“By disregarding the rule of law, the President has shown a dangerous willingness to trample on democracy.
“The declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State is not just reckless—it is a clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten its grip on power at all costs.
“It is a degrading back door imposition of martial rule on a strategic part of the federation with all the implied negatives .
“The political situation on the ground in Rivers does not justify such an extreme measure, and it is also a biased interpretation of section 305(1) of the 1999 constitution.
“A state of emergency does not mean an elected Governor can be removed unilaterally. This decision does not align with democratic norms or good governance. Instead, it appears to be a predetermined action serving specific interests rather than the collective good of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria.
“This action constitutes an unconstitutional overreach, setting a dangerous precedent that threatens democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. If left unchecked, it could foster a culture of impunity.
“Having already been grappling with non-adherence to electoral qualifications, rules, and massive rigging, adding arbitrary removal of elected officials will push us to a state of nature and anarchy.
“I appeal to the National Assembly and all stakeholders not to allow this to stand, as it only deepens the culture of impunity and brigand already threatening our democracy.”
