The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has expressed dissatisfaction with recent political developments in Rivers State, which led to Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the House of Assembly.
In a statement, NEF spokesperson Professor Abubakar Jika Jiddere urged Tinubu to immediately reinstate the governor and his deputy.
The forum noted that while the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended) empowers the President under Section 305 to declare a state of emergency in the country or any part of it, the situation in Rivers State did not justify such action.
“The president may by instrument published in the official Gazette of the Government of the Federation issue a proclamation of a state of emergency in the Federation or any part thereof.
“However, the president can only do so, if and only if, any the conditions stated in subsection 3 of Section 305 actually occurs which includes war, imminent invasion, breakdown of public order, clear and present danger, disaster or natural calamity, other public danger, or a request from the Governor of the State.”
“It is a public knowledge and indisputable fact that none of these conditions actually happened in Rivers State. Except perhaps for personal vendetta in alliance with the President’s serving Federal Minister of the FCT and the immediate past Governor of Rivers State who has been in personal conflict with the suspended Governor for selfish interests rather than public good,” NEF said.
“The Federal government and the President in particular must find a viable and permanent solution to the political crisis in Rivers State, and also immediately lift the suspension of the Governor, Deputy Governor and State Assembly to restore the spirit of democracy, justice and public order,”
The forum also urged the federal government to prevent the escalation of political disputes in other states, such as Kano, where a standoff and power struggle currently exist within the Kano Emirate’s traditional institution.
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