The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) condemned the state of emergency declared on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, calling it an absurd political decision that sets a dangerous precedent and is unconstitutional.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, on Wednesday, the NNPP assessed the political situation in Rivers State and concluded that it had not deteriorated to the point that a state of emergency was warranted.
The party argued that, aside from the political interests at play in the state, a more reasonable solution could have been applied instead of resorting to emergency rule.
Nigerian Tribune reports that the President on Tuesday in a nationwide broadcast declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state after months of disagreement between the now-suspended Governor Similayi Fubara and his predecessor who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
“Of course, the presidential fiat invoking Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution is arbitrary in the circumstances, to say the least, particularly on the conditions precedent and implications for democracy and development of the country.
“It is clearly a dangerous precedent which can only be interpreted as an absurd political manipulation on the part of the Federal Government. Why the rush to proclaim a State of Emergency without the conditions precedent as required by law? Doesn’t the president’s action vitiate the rule of law he talked about in his speech?
“Hasn’t he, by this rash action shown us that he does not fully understand the long-term implications and have the requisite skills required to rule a complex country like Nigeria? Or is it about his party’s much touted political interest in Rivers State ahead 2027?
“These are questions germane to this unfortunate decision which of course sends frightening signals both locally and internationally regarding the rule of law and overall state of things in our union.”
The statement was unequivocal that President Bola Tinubu was ill-advised, saying that he should have acted as a father for the parties involved in the Rivers State quagmire instead of being seen as one-sided and vindictive.
“Yes, this rational deduction could be gleaned even from the sequence of his speech which gives away Emergency Rule proclamation as a political orchestration towards a political end.
“This sort of action was what the NNPP had warned Nigerians and the people of Kano against, which it saw being orchestrated by some evil forces during the Emirate crisis. But for the maturity of the Governor and the good people of Kano State who avoided being “tricked” into taking their resistance onto the streets, the same scenario might have played out with an unjustifiable declaration of a State of Emergency on Kano State.
The NNPP, however, reckoned with the implication of the declaration of the State of Emergency for the economy, warning that it was a decision capable of triggering restlessness in the Niger Delta with disastrous effects on the national economy.
“Now the challenge is how to deal with a possible implosion in the Niger Delta over this matter. Are we seeing signs of this as per the incidents in the state in the last few days and how this could affect oil production as the nation’s economic mainstay?”
While calling on the Presidency to immediately reverse its decision, the party called on its members in the National Assembly to reject what is tantamount to a “presidential coup against a constitutionally-elected government of the people in Rivers State.”
The party urged Nigerians to be vigilant to any measures or actions by the government and the individuals within it that could jeopardize the nation’s democracy which, it said, was hard-earned and must be protected against impunity and ill-advised decisions and policies.
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