Former President Goodluck Jonathan and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka have both criticized the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State.

Jonathan expressed that this action could tarnish Nigeria’s reputation, while Soyinka argued that it undermines the principles of federalism.

On March 18, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing a breakdown in governance due to ongoing conflicts between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and state lawmakers, as well as attacks on oil facilities.

As part of this emergency declaration, Tinubu suspended:

Governor Fubara
Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu
Members of the state House of Assembly

He appointed Ibok-Ette Ibas, a retired Chief of Naval Staff, as the state’s sole administrator. This decision was supported by Section 305 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).

Just 48 hours after the emergency was declared, the National Assembly approved the rule, although some lawmakers voiced their opposition.

Many stakeholders, including governors from the Peoples Democratic Party, the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and various civil society organizations, have condemned the emergency rule.

At the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday, Jonathan expressed his disappointment over the removal of elected officials, emphasizing the importance of maintaining democratic governance in Rivers State.

“These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light,” Jonathan, who was the chairman of the programme, said.

The former president said that the country’s image and ability to attract investors depends on how well the government works. He blamed the executive, legislature, and judiciary for the problems in Rivers state, saying they abused their power.

“The key actors in Nigeria from the executive to the legislature and the judiciary know the correct thing to do but they are refusing to do it; they are pretending to sleep, and waking such a person is extremely difficult because the person knows the right thing.

“A clear abuse of offices, clear abuse of power, clear abuse of privileges, cutting across the three arms of government — from the executive through the parliament and to the judiciary,” Jonathan said.

Former President Jonathan defended his declaration of a state of emergency in three North-East states, saying it was necessary due to the Boko Haram insurgency.

He acknowledged that it was unusual for former presidents to comment on such issues, but felt compelled to speak out due to persistent calls from Nigerians.

He also criticized the judiciary, stating that it was difficult to have faith in it when an individual dictated its actions. Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka disagreed with Jonathan’s actions, arguing that the declaration betrayed federalism and that the 1999 constitution granted too much power to the president. He called for a national discussion on amending the constitution to ensure a genuine federal system.

He said, “If it is constitutionally right, then I think it is about time we sat down and amended the constitution to make sure that it operates as a genuine federal entity.

“The government is over-centralised. The debate will go on whether this (state of emergency) was, in the first place, a wise decision but in terms of fundamental principles, I believe that this is against the federal spirit of association.

“I find that the constitution has put too much power in the hands of the president. The system we are operating right now is not the best for a pluralistic society like ours. That is a fundamental principle I have always held.”

He stated that Nigeria must hold a national conference to change the country’s foundation, adding, “The federal spirit of association is a cardinal principle and, for that reason, some of us have called again and again for a national conference to really accord ourselves an authentic people’s constitution. Right now, in principle, this action is against the federal imperative.”

Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, responded by stating that while Soyinka and Jonathan are respected statesmen, their opinions are personal.

Wole Soyinka 

He said, “Professor Wole Soyinka and former President Goodluck Jonathan are respected statesmen. Like many Nigerians that have offered varied opinions on the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, the two distinguished Nigerians have also offered their own opinions too.

“President Tinubu has a country to govern, and he has exercised his power under the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“President Tinubu has a duty to preserve the corporate existence of Nigeria. He won’t allow any part of the country or state to descend into chaos.

“The Supreme Court ruled that there is no functioning government in Rivers State known to the constitution of Nigeria. President Tinubu won’t fail in his sacred duty to protect and preserve the country.”

Aisha Yesufu, a co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement, and other prominent human rights activists demanded the reversal of the emergency rule. They criticized the President’s action, calling it illegal and a violation of the constitution.

The activists, under the aegis of the Citizens and Civil Society Organisations, held a press conference in Abuja on Saturday to condemn the National Assembly’s approval of the emergency rule. They accused the Assembly of failing the people.

Yesufu expressed concern, warning that allowing the President and the National Assembly to impose the emergency rule would set a dangerous precedent.

She said, “I am sure every Nigerian feels sadness at what is happening currently in our country. The democracy that we have today—a lot of people died for it. It is only fair that we safeguard our democracy and ensure that the rule of law remains sacrosanct and that processes are followed in everything being done.

“We have to understand that if we do not fix this polity and say it’s none of our business, the things happening in Nigeria today will continue to happen, where a few citizens who are supposedly elected into office to serve the people begin to serve only their self-interest.

“Fellow citizens, we must understand that under a democracy, the constitution is sacrosanct, and it must be followed to the letter. This is not the democracy that a lot of people fought for, and some died for us to have. This constitutional rascality has to stop.”

Anthony Ubani, Executive Director of FixPolitics, representing 300 other coalitions, denounced the state of emergency. He declared it a betrayal of the democratic ideals cherished by every true Nigerian. Ubani vowed to challenge the president’s actions through a series of legal battles in the coming days.

“We demand an immediate reversal of the unconstitutional removal of the governor, deputy governor, and House of Assembly members in Rivers State. The president does not have the power to arbitrarily dismiss elected state officials. His actions are dictatorial and illegal and must be resisted by all Nigerians.

“We call on members of the National Assembly who were not part of Thursday’s charade to speak up against the violation of the constitution. The National Assembly is the highest law-making body in the country, and they must not be allowed to get away with choosing which of Nigeria’s laws they want to obey.

“There will be several lawsuits in the coming days, and we require the judiciary to review each case on its merit and not rely on technicalities to dismiss the cases. History has shown that when unconstitutional acts like this go unchallenged, they become the norm. If Rivers is silenced today, no state is safe tomorrow,” he stated.

Rights Groups Mobilization

The Take-It-Back Movement, a human rights organization, has announced plans for a nationwide protest on April 7 to oppose the emergency rule in Rivers State.

The group’s National Coordinator, Sanyaolu Juwon, shared this information with Sunday PUNCH. He criticized President Tinubu’s administration, claiming it is pushing Nigeria towards authoritarianism. Juwon emphasized that the President’s actions in Rivers State, such as suspending elected officials, are setting the stage for a potential military dictatorship.

“Our organisation has been at the forefront of resisting all anti-people policies of Tinubu, and we will keep doing that. We are planning a nationwide protest for April 7, targeted directly against Tinubu’s misgovernance and the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

“We are going to use the protest to address the fact that Tinubu’s government is leading the country towards dictatorship, not just with the development in Rivers State and what he did in Lagos State, but how his regime has handled the entire country, silencing the voice of opposition,” he stated.

The recent emergency rule in Rivers State has sparked widespread criticism and calls for action.

Several groups, including the Youth Rights Campaign and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, have condemned the move as an attack on democracy and a silencing of opposition voices. They are concerned that this is part of a larger pattern of Tinubu’s government moving towards a dictatorship.

The Democratic Socialist Movement has called for a mass protest against the emergency rule, urging the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to lead the effort. They believe the emergency rule is a direct attack on the democratic rights of the people of Rivers State.

He said, “They should also mobilise for mass action to condemn the unconstitutional pronouncement by President Tinubu and the approval by the National Assembly.

“All civil society organisations should come together to organise action to defend democracy. Fubara was a product of the overbearing character of Nyesom Wike.

“One person can’t take away the rights of the people of Rivers State. This is like a coup on the people of the state. We condemn this. We support every action to defend democratic rights.”

Adewale urged the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to participate in the mass action protesting the sabotage of democratic rights.

He said, “All civil society organisations should come together to organise action to defend democracy. One person can’t take away the rights of the people of Rivers State. This is like a coup on the people of the state. We condemn this. We support every action to defend democratic rights.”

The National Publicity Director of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bala Ibrahim, dismissed concerns over the meeting between the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter obi, and some PDP chieftains.

APC Chieftain Considers Peter Obi’s Meeting with Atiku and Others Inconsequential

Obi met with Atiku Abubakar, Sule Lamido, and Bukola Saraki separately. Ibrahim stated that the APC is not alarmed by the meetings and views them as insignificant.

He mocked suggestions of a potential LP-PDP merger to challenge the ruling party in 2027, claiming both parties are losing support and are likely in a state of distress.

He said, “In a democracy, meeting of politicians is not forbidden. Parties, people and politicians can meet to decide what to do politically and democratically. As long as their meetings are not designed to derail democracy, there is nothing wrong with that.

“The PDP, Labour Party and others together were the same parties defeated by the APC. The ruling party took them to the cleaners where the president scored the highest votes.

They are free to meet. But as they are meeting, so is the APC with a view to strengthening our support base to woo more people, based on the dividend of democracy extended to them by the president and our party.

“Obi’s meeting with Atiku and others is nothing to make the APC lose its sleep. You talked about the party being under pressure. How? These are parties that are increasingly losing grip and support. They are probably in a panic situation. Now, they want to sit and look at what to do with a view to increasing their support base ahead of 2027. But that is too long a time to go.

“This is also not to say we are going to be sleeping between now and when the time comes. We don’t talk about crossing the bridge until we get there. By that time, if they feel like coming out to merge, that will even be better for democracy. But whatever they resolve by 2027, we are going to beat them hands down.”

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has vowed to reclaim all leadership positions occupied by other political parties.

PDP Governors Vow to Reclaim All Leadership Positions

The Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, made the vow at the opening of the forum meeting on Wednesday at the Government House, Enugu.

According to him, it is a very unique and ambitious meeting in the history of the party, as they are in Enugu to make history and showcase their perseverance to the party.

“Today we are here to unify ourselves, discuss issues that affect the party, and various matters within ourselves.

“Our agenda will go through governance across party administrations, discuss inter-party affairs, Congress, and other things we need to do to provide credible alternatives to Nigerians.

He revealed that the meeting involved PDP governors and other party stakeholders, including the national working committee and various organs of the party.

The governor added that their assessment had shown at the national level that the country was driving towards anarchy, stressing that “we will not allow that because we share history, we share aspirations for Nigerians.

“It is high time the party reclaimed its leadership position in all the states that are currently being occupied by other parties,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governors present were Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara States.

Others are Ahmed Fintiri of Adamawa and Douye Diri of Bayelsa, including Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who is the host governor. (NAN)

OCCRP named Tinubu one of the world’s most corrupt leaders.

bola ahmed tinubu

This has highlights serious concern about his government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been ranked as the third most corrupt leader in the world by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Since taking office as Nigeria’s president in 2023, he was named one of the top five finalists for the OCCRP’s 2024 Corrupt Person of the Year list, which was published on December 30.

This list was compiled based on over 55,000 votes from readers, journalists, and members of OCCRP’s global network. Other notable finalists included:

William Ruto – President of Kenya
Joko Widodo – Former President of Indonesia
Sheikh Hasina – Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Gautam Adani – Indian businessman

“We asked for nominations from readers, journalists, the Person of the Year judges and others in the OCCRP global network,” stated the OCCRP.

“These finalists represent the most corrupt figures in 2024.”

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Tinubu’s presidency has been surrounded by controversies regarding his wealth, which critics claim is largely unexplained.

Persistent allegations of drug trafficking, forgery, and financial malpractice have cast a shadow over his administration.

In May 2023, it was disclosed that his son, Seyi Tinubu, owned a $10.8 million mansion in London, which was previously associated with Nigerian businessman Kolawole Aluko, who is alleged to have acquired the property using proceeds from criminal activities.

The Labour Party (LP) responded to the recent meeting involving its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and key figures from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Meeting of Peter Obi with Atiku, Saraki, and Lamido in Abuja: Reaction from LP

• Peter Obi held a closed-door meeting with Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, in Abuja.
• Additionally, Obi met with Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa State, and Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, separately.

In a statement to The Punch on Monday, LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, expressed the party’s support for the meeting, considering it timely and essential.

• Ifoh emphasized that the gathering consisted of individuals sharing a common belief in the necessity of improved leadership in the country.
• The LP spokesperson mentioned that more meetings are planned in preparation for the 2027 general election.

He highlighted the challenges Nigeria faces under the current APC administration, which has lacked clear direction over the past year.

He said: “Yes, it was a meeting of like-minded individuals who believe there is a need for better leadership in our nation. They are people who see that Nigerians are suffering, not receiving what they bargained for, and observe corruption persisting in high places while Nigeria’s resources are mismanaged.

“They believe it’s the right time to unite and take action to address the challenges facing Nigeria today. Despite the government being barely a year old, Nigeria is facing difficult times under the APC administration, which seems directionless.

“This meeting is just the beginning; there will be further interactions and gatherings with other individuals. Together, they will brainstorm on how to rescue the nation. The party is fully aware of the meeting and is committed to working hard to achieve something significant for our country.”