The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s unconstitutional declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, including the suspension of elected officials. They argue this reflects a troubling trend towards political intolerance and a potential one-party state, calling for the National Assembly to intervene and uphold democratic governance.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which included the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu. The statement, signed by leaders from various regional groups, labeled the action unconstitutional and described it as a troubling step towards a one-party state.
The forum expressed dismay at the grounds upon which the President acted, stating that the allegations against the governor were based on unverified claims of militant threats. They warned that the actions reflect a growing tolerance for political intolerance, ultimately jeopardizing the democratic fabric of the nation.
The SMBLF pointed out that the Nigerian Constitution does not empower the Federal Government to seize control of a federating state under the cited Section 305 (5). They urged the citizens of Rivers State and the Niger Delta to avoid violent responses to this development, which they labeled unfortunate.
The statement condemned the unconstitutional dissolution of the State House of Assembly and the removal of the governor and his deputy. The forum argued that the cited grounds for impeachment align closely with President Tinubu’s rationale, reinforcing their claims of an orchestrated effort to supplant a democratically elected government.
The SMBLF emphasized that federal intervention is only warranted when a state legislature is incapacitated, a situation they assert does not apply here. They criticized the involvement of defectors from the Rivers State House of Assembly whose status remains under litigation for exacerbating assembly dysfunction and causing governance issues in the state.
Furthermore, the SMBLF drew comparisons to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s approach in 2013, which neither dissolved democratic structures nor disregarded the legislature. They contended that security issues such as pipeline vandalism fall within the jurisdiction of federal agencies rather than the state governor.
The President’s decision to replace the democratically elected government with a military administrator was branded as a provocative act favoring ex-Governor Nyesom Wike. The SMBLF urged the National Assembly to utilize its constitutional powers to counteract what they term a despotic decision, warning of ominous implications for Nigeria’s democratic governance.
Finally, the SMBLF called for immediate action from the National Assembly to nullify the President’s decree, cautioning that the nation risks repeating its regrettable past under the current trajectory of governance.
In summary, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has raised significant concerns regarding President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. They suggest that such actions threaten democracy and reflect an unacceptable trend towards political intolerance. The SMBLF advocates for constitutional intervention by the National Assembly to prevent further erosion of democratic principles in Nigeria.
Original Source: punchng.com
