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 All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has instructed the Rivers State House of Assembly to start impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Rivers APC Urges State House of Assembly to Impeach Governor Fubara Immediately

This directive was issued by Tony Okocha, the chairman of the Rivers APC caretaker committee, in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. He accused the Governor of not adhering to the terms of the peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu to resolve the political crisis in the oil-rich state.

This crisis has pitted the incumbent Governor against his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. Okocha stated that the governor had “insulted the sensibility” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

A state as crucial and all-important as Rivers State churned out a dunderhead. We cannot accept that. Our charge to the Assembly is to immediately commence an impeachment process against the Governor.

“And if they don’t do that there is what they call party discipline. We shall invoke the relevant section of the constitution,” he said.

The APC leadership’s call comes after Governor Fubara stated that there are no members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike. During a meeting with a delegation from Bayelsa State seeking to resolve the political crisis and enhance relations between the states, Fubara mentioned that he agreed to Tinubu’s peace accord to provide the lawmakers with a floating.

He emphasized that the peace agreement with Wike was political and could lead to the derecognition of his loyalists as lawmakers. Governor Fubara stated that he made numerous sacrifices to ensure peace prevailed in the state.

Sowore claimed he was the first to reveal Obi’s alleged corrupt activities while he was serving as the Governor of Anambra State.

Peter Obi is a packaged fraud, just like Buhari – Sowore

Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), boldly stated that Peter Obi, his Labour Party opponent, was deceptively presented for the 2023 election to mislead Nigerians.

Sowore recently addressed misconceptions about his views on the former Anambra State Governor in an interview with Pulse Nigeria. Known as the owner of the Sahara Reporters media outlet, Sowore openly expresses his disapproval of the political class, particularly individuals who have held positions of power. He has been a vocal critic of President Bola Tinubu during his time as Lagos State Governor and continued to criticize Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, throughout Buhari’s eight-year tenure. Leading up to the 2023 elections, Sowore heavily criticized Obi, who was championing the Labour Party movement as a third political force after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2022.

Sowore positioned himself as a candidate focused on youth issues, advocating for a revolution to remove the current ruling class and allow well-intentioned young Nigerians to assume leadership. When questioned about his lack of support for the Obi movement despite its popularity among Nigerian youths, he expressed a strong aversion to dishonest politicians.

“What is true is that I have a general disdain for the dishonesty of Nigerian politicians. I have disdain for lacklustre performance, and whenever anybody then comes up as a politician or who wants to run Nigeria, they come with this fraudulent packaging.

“My default position is to warn people first and then expose them later. My position about Peter Obi has been consistent. The same way my position about Tinubu has been consistent. It is only that the people who are now on the internet as influencers weren’t born at the time when I’ve been against all these terrible politicians, including those in the military.

“Otherwise, you would have known that in 2006 or 2008, I was the first to expose Tinubu’s drug history in Chicago. But the people who now follow Peter were not interested at that time because it wouldn’t favour them.

“But in 2022, they suddenly realised that Tinubu was a druggy and took it and ran away with it without giving credit to Sahara Reporters, which was the platform that was used in publishing at the time.

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“I was the one who exposed Atiku’s corruption, including all the bribes he collected, to the extent that Atiku ran away from the US based on the report done by Sahara Reporters on his corruption. This included the corruption between him and Obasanjo, including using educational funds to buy cars for their girlfriends and how they were stealing them. It was me and Sahara reporters who did that.

“I and Sahara Reporters also found out that Peter Obi was building substandard hospitals and never built schools, as it later revealed. He was investing state money in his private business and carrying money in cash to Appap. One of which was N250 million, and the police arrested them (Peter Obi) and found out that he was stealing money.

“All these things are on Sahara Reporters now. So if some people now go and repackage Obi and claim that he is going to help Nigeria work, and I say to them my full chest that this is a packaged fraud, and you get upset about that, that is not my problem,” he said.

He continued: “That you love a fraudster is not my mistake. People loved Buhari, too, until his tenure killed their parents. Some families were wiped out. Peter Obi is nothing compared to the way the fraudulent Buhari was packaged. Buhari used to get 12 million votes every election season until he won in 2015. Was he not loved? What did we get from it? Insecurity, killings, and corruption of unimaginable proportion.

So if we tell you that we know Peter Obi and that he is not what he is presented to be, and you say you must impose these on Nigeria, and we say no, we don’t accept that. Now you get upset; it’s your right to be upset or that you love him. Is it your right to love him?

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But it’s also our right to keep saying the truth as we know it and as we understand it.

“So, the emotional aspect of it is nothing new. There is no politician in the world that doesn’t have followers. If you go to the US, Donald Trump has followers who are willing to kill themselves. There was even a man who went to set himself ablaze in front of the district court, where he was undergoing trial.

“What is new about that? But that doesn’t change the facts about Peter Obi’s tenure as an eight-year governor in Anambra state who didn’t build a school. Not a single road, not a single hospital that you can count, exists.

“They will say go and verify, and when you verify to them, they (Obi’s supporters) say no, we’re not going to accept it. That’s not my problem. And I know that some of you fell for those things, but you also now see that the position I maintain that is not different from the rest of them is coming into play.

“He himself knows that he’s a fraud he knows this. In anybody that Obasanjo is supporting, Babangida is supporting, Doyin Okupe. Even Doyin Okupe has come to say that they were fraudulently packaging themselves to use the Labour Party to hoodwink Nigerians. So that’s the point.” Sowore added.

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Reno Omokri has reacted to the outcome of the Edo state governorship election, which was held over the weekend, stating that it was an election between two “godfathers”.

Edo Election: A Battle of Godfathers, Says Reno Omokri

In a post shared on his Instagram page, Omokri said the outcome showed that the election was between Godwin Obaseki, incumbent governor of Edo state, and Adams Oshiomole, former governor of the state, and not the two contending contestants, PDP’s Osagie Igodalo and APC’s Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who won the election.

His post reads

“The Edo election was largely free, fair and transparent and overwhelmingly reflected the freely given will of the people of Edo State.

If you take the time to see the negative fall out, they are almost all from people and celebrities who are not from Edo State and do not live there. I have family, businesses, buildings, and employees in Edo State, and as such, I have an ear to the ground.

I see too many people being emotional over the outcome of the #EdoDecides24. Emotions are good for activism and sometimes for chasing women if you are a romantic. But they do not win elections on Election Day or at the courts.

If you want to win, you have got to be rational.

This was an election of one godfather against the other. It was not Ighodalo who was defeated. He is an excellent candidate. It was Obaseki who was rejected. It was not Okpebholo that won. It was Oshiomhole and Shaibu.

If Ighodalo and Okpebholo had gone mano a mano, without the aid of godfathers in the picture, I am convinced that Ighodalo would have won.

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The only difference between the two contending camps is that Obaseki relied on his office, while Oshiomhole and Shaibu focused on the people.

And since politics is about addition, Oshiomhole and Shaibu won the political arithmetics.

Obaseki failed to understand that in politics, no matter your position, you must still try to avoid subtraction.

No matter how popular you think, you are, if your opponent is practising addition and you are implementing subtraction, the result of the election is a foregone conclusion, even if you allow social media to mislead you.

Remember, there are no polling booths on the Internet.”

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State visited the State House of Assembly quarters to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the structures in the area.

Reasons for Visiting Rivers Assembly Quarters – Fubara

This was disclosed in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, on Thursday in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Fubara mentioned that he briefly stopped at the Assembly Quarters on Wednesday while heading to Emohua–Abalama-Tema Junction to inspect the 15.24-kilometer dual carriageway road project.

The governor explained that he visited the State House of Assembly to assess what improvements are necessary to create a comfortable environment for the lawmakers.

He emphasized that the assembly quarters are state government properties that require proper maintenance and care.

Fubara, walking around the quarters, observed that there is a new speaker for the State House of Assembly.

He said: “Is the Assembly quarters not part of my property? Is there anything wrong in going to check how things are going on there? You are aware of the developments. We have a new speaker, and I went there to see for my myself how things are. There might be a few things I might want to do there for the good of our people.”

Road Project Update

Fubara discussed the road project, mentioning that he visited to evaluate the progress of the work and determine additional requirements for the road’s completion before its commissioning on his one-year anniversary.

The governor highlighted that while the road project was initiated by the previous administration, a significant portion of the funding was provided by his administration.

He said: “As a matter of fact, we added this section of the road as one of the projects we will be commissioning. So, I needed to see it myself, and what is remaining is just the lighting. By the grace of God, we will commission it.

“We feel justified to add it as our project and to commission it for the good of our people here. Governance is all about the people. When the people are out of the centre of governance, then it is no longer governance.

“So, this road, as we all now know, was in a very bad state. A lot of criminal activities were being carried out here: kidnapping and all sorts of things. So, putting this road in order is appropriate.

“You can see the little hour we spent coming here. Before, it takes you 30 to 45 minutes to drive from Emohua to this place. But look at it, less than 15 minutes we are here. So, it is about the people, the good of the people, making life easy for the people. That is the way I see governance. Anything outside that has nothing to do with me.”

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