The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over the suspension of the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and Members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State, following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

Naija News reports that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu and all lawmakers, while appointing a sole administrator to govern the state for an initial period of six months.

The suit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, names the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as defendants. The plaintiffs, Yirabari Israel Nulog, Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal, and Gracious Eyoh–Sifumbukho, who are members of SERAP Volunteers’ Lawyers Network (SVLN) in Rivers State, argue that the suspension of the elected officials is unconstitutional and violates their rights to participate in the democratic process.

The plaintiffs are seeking several reliefs, including the annulment of the suspension of the officials and the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

They also seek a declaration that the President’s actions are unlawful and unconstitutional under various sections of the Nigerian Constitution.

In the suit, the plaintiffs argue that the suspension of elected officials in Rivers State violates the constitutional rights of citizens to participate in their government. They emphasize that such actions are against the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and the Nigerian Constitution, and they call for the reversal of these actions.

The plaintiffs, represented by their lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, argue that the President’s proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State did not follow the necessary constitutional process and that the suspension of elected officials undermines the country’s democratic framework.

They also seek an injunction restraining Vice Admiral Ibas from acting as the Sole Administrator and to prevent the continuation of the suspension of the elected officials.

Naija News reports that the hearing date for the case has not been set as of the time of this report.

Hundreds of constituents from Kogi central have taken to the streets in support of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents the district in the upper legislative chamber.

Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended from the senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct” following a seating arrangement dispute with Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

She had earlier accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.

The protests were triggered by recent attempts by certain Kogi central constituents to initiate a recall process against Akpoti-Uduaghan.

They carried banners with inscriptions that read: ‘Natasha, Pride of Kogi Central’, ‘Protect Kogi Central Constituents’, and ‘We Stand with Natasha’.

The protesters, among them men, women, and youths, broke into songs in the Ebira language, mocking those who had initiated the recall process.

Chanting in unison, they sang: “They should be ashamed of themselves! Shame has caught them after collecting N10,000 and jollof rice from Akpabio!”

On Thursday, the federal high court in Lokoja granted an interim injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting or acting on petitions to recall Akpoti-Uduaghan.

On Friday, the court vacated the order, saying it is the civic right of constituents to recall any lawmaker.

Watch video of the protest below.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said its operatives have intercepted a 42-year-old Indian lady, Ms. Neetu Neetu, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, Kano, with 72 parcels of heroin factory-sealed in wafer wraps and packaged as chocolates.

NDLEA stated that the class A drug consignment, weighing a total of 11 kilograms, was recovered from Neetu’s luggage after a thorough search, following processed credible intelligence, during an inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha at the arrival hall of Kano airport on Friday, 14th March 2025.

This was made known in a statement on Sunday by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.

Babafemi disclosed that Neetu’s arrest signifies a growing attempt by drug trafficking organizations to hire white ladies and foreign nationals to move illicit drugs through Nigerian borders.

He stated that vigilant NDLEA operatives have consistently frustrated these attempts with the aid of modern technological tools and proactive intelligence, quoting the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), in his reaction to Neetu’s arrest.

In another interdiction operation in Kano, NDLEA officers on Thursday, 20th March, arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Michael Ogundele, with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder at Gadar Tamburawa, along Zaria-Kano Road. Based on credible intelligence, welding tools were later used to cut open the giant cylinder, revealing 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed inside.

Meanwhile, Sunday Ogar, 40, was nabbed at Gunduwawa area of Kano on Wednesday, 19th March, with 27kg of skunk, a strain of cannabis. Additionally, a female suspect, Khadijah Abdullahi, 40, was arrested with 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Lungun Bulala Yalwa area of the state on Tuesday, 18th March.

In Lagos, the duo of Olumuyiwa Kolawole and Samod Adisa were nabbed with 67.5kg of skunk in Mushin, just as 100.8kg of the same psychoactive substance was recovered from the store of two fleeing suspects in Anifowoshe area of Mushin. Meanwhile, Isah Idris was arrested in Apapa with 4.5kg of skunk, 600 grams of tramadol 225mg, and 30 litres of codeine syrup on Tuesday, 18th March.

Another suspect, Yahaya Mohamed, was arrested the same day in Ikotun area of the state with different quantities of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.

Earlier in his reaction, NDLEA boss Marwa commended the officers and men of MAKIA, Lagos, and Kano Commands of the agency for the arrests and seizures.

Marwa noted with satisfaction the balance in drug supply and demand reduction efforts of all the formations nationwide, even as he charged them not to relent.

Although the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hasn’t made its official position known on the coalition being put together by some key leaders of the opposition to wrestle power from the ruling party at the federal level, All Progressives Congress (APC), and President Bola Tinubu ahead of 2027, Sunday Vanguard understands that the PDP may join forces with them on one condition: The process will not lead to its loss of identity.

The PDP was in power for 16 years before the APC dislodged it from the Presidential Villa in 2015 when then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan lost reelection to former President Buhari.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, had, last week, announced his decision to join the coalition with other members of opposition parties to challenge Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Atiku was responding to a call by a former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El-Rufai, to key members of opposition parties in the country to come together and fight Tinubu and APC in 2027.

El-Rufai had made the call while dumping the APC for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

In his response, the former PDP presidential candidate confirmed that he, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, Mr Peter Obi, and El-Rufai, among others, had kick-started a movement aimed at defeating Tinubu’s APC in the 2027 elections.

He spoke at a press conference organized by Nigeria’s key opposition leaders and political stakeholders to discuss the President’s controversial declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State.

When journalists asked whether the emerging coalition would be the major opposition force against the APC in 2027, Atiku did not mince words.
“Yes,” he declared.

Clarity

Sources within the PDP told Sunday Vanguard at the weekend that the party will expect the former presidential candidate to give clarity to his decision soon.

A member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter was “yet to be discussed at the official level,” said, “We expect him to shed more light on his decision as we proceed.

“For now, he is still a high ranking member of our party the PDP.

“We have been following his public statements and engagements and he hasn’t announced to anyone that he is leaving or has left our party.

“Yes, he left the party on two previous occasions over the past two decades -first to join Tinubu’s Action Congress (AC) to contest the 2007 presidential election; and in 2013 or thereabouts to join others to form the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Note, however, that on each of these occasions he returned to the PDP.

“Now, whether he is planning to leave to join others or he wants others to come join us to beat the APC rigging machine in 2027, only he can explain. “For now, from my interactions with members of his team, one thing is clear, this time around, Atiku’s move is a strategic step towards unifying opposition forces against the ruling APC.

‘Significant shift’

“His announcement of the formation of a coalition signals a significant shift in Nigeria’s political landscape, as opposition leaders seek to present a united front against the current administration.

“The proposed coalition is expected to bring together key political parties and stakeholders, including prominent figures like Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

“It’s worth noting that Atiku’s decision might not be universally accepted within the PDP, as some members may have different opinions on the best strategy to challenge the APC in 2027.

“Nevertheless, Atiku’s move demonstrates his commitment to opposing the current administration and his willingness to work with other opposition parties to achieve this goal.”

Identity

The party chieftain further explained that a majority of leaders and members of the PDP are resolute in their desire to ensure that the party retains its identity.

According to him, a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, spoke the minds of most leaders and members of the PDP when he dismissed El-Rufai’s call to dump the party and join the SDP.

Lamido said in an interview, “The party we formed, the PDP, is the one that gave birth to El-Rufai. You’re not enough to make us leave the PDP.

“He (El-Rufai) once said that there are no elders in Nigerian politics, but now he is calling on us to join him in the SDP.”

Lamido equally questioned El-Rufai’s motive for dumping the APC for the SDP and his motivation for seeking power.

“Leadership is done with patience and vision, and doing things for the peace of the followers and the country as a whole”, he said.

While restating his loyalty to the PDP, Lamido said the party which he helped to form hasn’t done anything wrong to warrant him leaving to join another.

His views resonated with another leader and foundation member of the PDP, Chief Bode George, who has told whoever cares to listen that he is in the PDP to stay.

Just two years after producing a miraculous sprint at the finish line to win Rivers State in the 2023 presidential election, the camp of President Bola Tinubu has commenced the race for 2027, opposition elements are alleging.

The imposition of a state of emergency with the suspension of Governor Simi Fubara is central to the plot to push Tinubu ahead in the 2027 contest, according to his critics. That claim is, however, countered by insiders in Tinubu’s camp who allege a plot by Fubara to fund the opposition to Tinubu towards the 2027 presidential election.

Whatever, both supporters and critics of the state of emergency insinuate money and politics as critical elements for the imposition of the state of emergency.

The huge pile of cash available to Rivers State both from the Federation Account and from internally generated sources, it is believed, is the pursuit of the political actors now scambling for Rivers State.

Sunday Vanguard reports that governors of Rivers State have, since the advent of the Fourth Republic, been fingered in funding presidential election campaigns either for themselves or for their associates.

Former Governor Peter Odili, just before the 2007 presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had so much muscled himself into the leading aspirant with support across the country.

Indeed, by the eve of the PDP presidential primary, the Odili Campaign had reportedly taken over all the major hotels in Abuja ready to move in delegates until top officials of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration descended on him.

Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, at the end of his two terms as governor, did not go for the ultimate prize, but allegedly backed General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) who eventually won the ticket and the main election.

Mr Nyesom Wike, who succeeded Amaechi, went for the prize himself and lost the PDP ticket mainly because of the gang-up between then-Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
He subsequently went on to back Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who won the election.

Control

So, ahead of the 2027 elections, eyes had turned towards Rivers with the prospects of having the political actors in control of the state play a role in funding the 2027 election.

Though Fubara, who is in the PDP, had, at various times, declared his support for a second term for Tinubu, his unceremonious fallout with his political godfather, Wike, had put him under suspicion.

The suspicion was further fueled by what some alleged to be intelligence linking Fubara to the opposition to Tinubu in 2027.

However, a source close to Atiku, one of the leading opposition leaders, flatly claimed ignorance of such a claim.

Tinubu had, in justifying the decision on emergency rule, accused Fubara of sympathizing with militants and others who had become passionate in their support for the governor.

The action was inevitably triggered by two bomb blasts that occurred on Monday and on Tuesday.

Decision

Sunday Vanguard gathered that the decision to impose a state of emergency had, however, been taken for some time and was a fact known to a few presidential aides and associates of a very powerful minister with interests in Rivers State.

“Sometime is going to happen very soon before the end of next week,” one of them was heard saying the week before.

However, pushing through the idea of the state of emergency was one that even administration officials knew was not going to be an easy task.

It was especially so given the fact that Tinubu had, in the past, actually opposed state of emergency when the Goodluck Jonathan administration declared same in three North-East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
However, for those determined to get rid of Fubara, nothing was especially too much to sacrifice to achieve the aim.

Sunday Vanguard reports that Abuja has been saturated with allegations of lawmakers being compromised with loads of money in foreign currency for the purpose of winning support.

Lawmakers have been quoted as claiming that they got the kind of money that they could not reject.

Opportunity

According to some critics, the ongoing Muslim fast became an opportunity for the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to mobilise senators.

The Tuesday the proclamation was made, Akpabio had gathered senators to break the Islamic fast with him.
Sources claimed that as they left, they allegedly received $5,000 each.

The following day, Wednesday, on the eve of the consideration of the fast, the senators who also came to break fast were allegedly packaged with $10,000 each.

However, Akpabio’s spokesman, Hon Eseme Eyiboh, strongly denied the claims telling Sunday Vanguard that the rumour was another bid by critics of the Senate President to tarnish his image.

“On the issue of the dollars, he is giving the money for what? I am aware of the breaking of the fast but I can tell you I am not aware and it is not true of the dollars, whether $5,000 or $10,000, people are just conjuring it to be able to give flavour to their malice and hate campaign”, Eyiboh said.
“People are just conjuring the story of the $5,000, $10,000 to add flavour to their malice and hate campaign. He has been doing it. He did it last year, so why is this one associated with money”.

Fallouts

Whatever, the fallouts of the controversies surrounding the passage of the proclamation has put two Labour Party senators who partook in the breaking of fast under the spotlight.

Senator Victor Umeh, who had in the past defended some of the controversial actions of the Senate under Akpabio, and Senator Neda Imasuen, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petition, are two senators in Labour Party that have now come under the spotlight.

The two, who are Christians, are being asked to explain their presence at the breaking of the Islamic fast hosted by Akpabio for Muslim senators.

The two have been challenged to name any other Labour senator that was present.

Engr. Chukwuebuka Ekpechi, speaking on behalf of Concerned Anambra Central Stakeholders, while putting their senator to task over his presence at the Muslim breaking of fast at the Senate President’s Guest House in Maitama, Abuja, said: “Let Senator Victor Umeh, who has admitted that he went to IFTAR PRAYER (breaking of Fasting for Muslims) to pray for peace in Rivers … mention the names of other Labour Party senators present at Senate President’s Guest House on Tuesday night where he said his ‘prayer’.

“He should be free to mention their names as he claimed that other Labour Party senators were present on Tuesday.”

Sunday Vanguard reports that a number of other Labour Party senators are miffed by the alleged attempt by Umeh to associate other Labour Party senators as having been present at the breaking of fast at Akpabio’s Guest House where alleged mobilisation for passing the state of emergency proclamation was said to have been done.

Hajiya Sarafa’u Umaru, the mother of Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State, has passed away at the age of 93.

Her death was announced on Sunday, March 23, 2025, in a statement by Ibrahim Kaula-Mohammed, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary.

The statement read in part, “With profound sadness, the Government of Katsina State announces the passing of Hajiya Safara’u Umaru Baribari, the beloved mother of Gov. Dikko Radda.

“Hajiya Safara’u departed this world last night at the blessed age of 93.

“She was a woman of remarkable strength and dignity with wisdom flowed from decades of lived experience.”

Kaula-Mohammed said the late Hajiya Safara’u nurtured generations of leaders and community pillars, some of whom include the state governor, Hajiya Hauwa Umar-Radda, former wife of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua and the current head of Radda village.

“Her children include the current Village Head of Radda, Alhaji Kabir Umar-Radda, and Hajiya Hauwa Umar-Radda, former wife of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

“A true Fulani matriarch, Hajiya Safara’u leaves behind a legacy that reaches far beyond her immediate family.

“Her values of integrity, perseverance, and community service continue to inspire all who knew her,” he said.

The governor’s aide said the late matriarch would be laid to rest in Radda village by 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Former House of Representatives member for Kazaure/Roni /Gwiwa/Yankashi Constituency, Gudaji Kazaure, has said he visited Atiku Abubakar to show support for his plan to rescue the country.

Naija News reports that Kazaure, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain from Jigawa State, disclosed that his visit to the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate followed a meeting held by Northern elders.

Kazaure stated this on Saturday when he paid a visit to Atiku, with some Northern politicians.

He said most of the elected people have abandoned the electorates and what their assignments were.

The former Chairman of the House Committee Political Parties Matters added that the current administration has also failed to fight corruption affecting the country.

His words: “I visited our father, Atiku Abubakar. I visited him because of the Nigerian problem we are facing now. Politically, all the Northern elders and leaders, we gathered and had a meeting before meeting him. So that let all our politicians come together to find a lasting solution. Because most of our elected people, they abandoned us, they abandoned all what we are trying to make this country great.

“Many of our problems that we already talked about or we reviewed in the previous administration, none of it was executed. We have nobody in this country that will say we didn’t expose corruption, we didn’t talk about corruption. And this government promised to continue investigating what will be in the future. And up to now, not enough. Nobody invited me, nobody called me, nobody knew whether I am existing or not.

“So that is why we cooperate to call all our patriotic politicians to come and join one way. And we are here waiting for the instruction of the Northern Nigeria and the Nigerian in general, those who are patriotic and looking for a Nigerian progress. We are ready to follow wherever they carry us. We are ready to go. We don’t care which any party. We are here for the main project of how to save the country. So wherever our elders carry us, we are ready to follow them. This is the reason I visited my father to come and do greeting to him. And he received me with respect, like as a son, and I am grateful for what he said, because he is not thinking for himself.

“He is thinking for Nigerian people. And whoever thinks for Nigerian people, he is the person that we are supposed to put him on the front. Because Nigerian people first. Nigerian people second. Nigerian people third. And we are ready to serve the country in one way or the other. So this journey of all our political elders, we are ready for them to show us where we are going to. And we are ready to follow, inshallah (sic).”

The Supreme Court ruling in 2006 has placed a legal obstacle before the suspended Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, preventing him from seeking the enforcement of his rights through the courts.

According to TheCable, while Fubara is barred from directly approaching the court under the precedent set by the ruling, he could potentially initiate a case at the Federal High Court, though experts indicate that a swift resolution of the matter is unlikely.

On March 19, 2025, President Bola Tinubu announced the suspension of Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The decision, made in a live national broadcast, cited the ongoing political unrest in the state as the reason for declaring a state of emergency.

Naija News reports that the president appointed retired Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as the state’s sole administrator during the six-month emergency period.

Fubara, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has since been excluded from office, as part of the emergency measures aimed at restoring order.

Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants the president the power to declare a state of emergency under certain conditions.

However, legal experts have raised concerns about whether the suspension of a sitting governor, deputy governor, and lawmakers goes beyond the constitutional limits of executive authority.

This situation mirrors a previous instance in 2004, when President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state of emergency in Plateau State due to violent ethnic and religious clashes.

The emergency resulted in the suspension of then-Governor Joshua Dariye and the state legislature, with retired General Chris Alli appointed as the sole administrator.

In the Plateau case, the Plateau state government and the state assembly challenged the president’s actions at the Supreme Court, but their case was struck out on jurisdictional grounds.

The court ruled that the appointed administrator had full control of the state and had not authorized anyone to challenge the president’s decision in court.

The court’s lead judgment, delivered by Justice Idris Kutigi, concluded that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to file the case on behalf of the state.

The judgment also clarified that since there was no legal dispute between the administrator and the federal government, the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

This legal precedent means that Fubara cannot seek to challenge his suspension through the Rivers State government, as he no longer holds executive authority under the state of emergency.

According to the 2006 ruling, any attempt to sue on behalf of the state government would be invalid since the current administrator holds full control.

Can’t File In Personal Capacity

The Supreme Court, in Plateau State v. Attorney-General of the Federation, also clarified that under Section 232(1) of the 1999 Constitution, it only has original jurisdiction over disputes between the federal government and a state — not cases filed by individuals in their personal capacity.

The court struck out all reliefs sought on behalf of Dariye, the deputy governor, members of the House of Assembly, and state commissioners, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain their personal grievances.

This sets a precedent: Fubara cannot personally approach the Supreme Court to challenge his suspension.

Other governors elected on the platform of the PDP have resolved to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the declaration of emergency rule. Fubara is notably not listed as a plaintiff.

According to TheCable, if Fubara cannot seek redress at the Supreme Court, could the federal high court offer an alternative legal pathway?

The federal high court has jurisdiction over cases involving the enforcement of fundamental rights, constitutional interpretation, and disputes involving the federal government.

Under Section 251 especially subsection (r) of the 1999 Constitution, the court can hear cases where the federal government or any of its agencies is a party.

This raises the question of whether Fubara or not can challenge his suspension by arguing that it violates his fundamental rights or seek judicial review arguing that his suspension exceeds presidential powers.

Ultimately, while the federal high court might offer a window for legal action, success would depend on whether Fubara’s legal team can establish that the president acted beyond his constitutional powers.

Even then, lawyers contend the case would likely face objections from the federal government and could take years to resolve — by which time the six-month suspension would have lapsed.

The member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and leader of the Labour Party caucus, Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, has revealed that his party is actively participating in talks over a coalition to oust President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

Speaking to Sunday Sun, he disclosed that many political parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC) want his political leader, former Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, to join them.

He noted that if there was a need for a coalition to remove former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, then there is even a more compelling need for disparate opposition leaders and political parties to come together against Tinubu in 2027.

Ogene said: “Nigeria is currently in some form of dire straits, even more worrisome than the situation the country found itself during the President Goodluck Jonathan years. Although the issues prevalent at the time largely hinged on insecurity occasioned by the rampage of Boko Haram and the seeming indecisiveness of the then President, what confronts our dear country now is clearly an existential threat to its survival as a democratic state. While Jonathan was roundly dismissed as ‘clueless,’ the current occupant of the seat, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has conversely proven to be a conscript, ready to compromise all vestiges of our democracy, in favour of the rule by one man. Thus, in my estimation, if indeed there was a need to form a coalition in 2014, to ensure the removal of then President Jonathan from office, there’s even now, a more compelling need for disparate opposition leaders and political parties to come together, in the quest for power.

“Regarding whether my political party is part of the coalition, all I can say is that my leader, Mr Peter Obi, is in the mix, and is, in fact, the beautiful ‘bride’ in the entire equation. Indeed, besides all political parties, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) craving to have Obi in their corner, Nigerians across tribes, region, religious, age brackets and Diaspora, who yearn for a better-run country want him on the saddle.

“So, essentially, we are part and parcel of this emerging coalition, of either political parties, or genuine leaders who can no longer watch our country being run like a fiefdom. Concerning whether the emergent coalition will be able to oust the APC from office in 2027, the answer flies in the wind. I say so, because any team desirous of winning a game must begin by fielding its first eleven, with youthful zest, dexterity and global acceptability in mind.”

The presidency has responded to the criticism from former President Goodluck Jonathan and Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka regarding the recent suspension of elected officials in Rivers State, following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

Recalls that former President Jonathan condemned the suspension of the elected officers in Rivers State, describing the actions as detrimental to Nigeria’s international reputation.

At the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday, Jonathan expressed his disappointment over the removal of elected officials.

He stated, “These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light.”

Jonathan stressed the importance of the executive, legislature, and judiciary in maintaining the nation’s image and investment opportunities.

He further accused the three arms of government of engaging in abuse of power, which he argued contributed to the crisis in Rivers State.

The former president, who chaired the event, clarified that although former presidents typically refrain from commenting on such issues to avoid escalating tensions, his decision to speak out was prompted by numerous Nigerians urging him to address the situation, especially as a prominent figure from the Niger Delta region.

Jonathan also criticized the lack of trust in the judiciary, pointing out the troubling scenario where an individual, rather than the judicial system, had the power to dictate actions to the bench.

Soyinka Criticizes The Move As Anti-Federalism
Similarly, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka expressed concerns about the declaration, stating that it undermined the spirit of federalism.

Speaking to The Africa Report, Soyinka argued that the manner in which the state of emergency was declared betrayed the principles of federalism enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution.

He noted that the 1999 constitution granted excessive power to the president, and called for a national discussion on the matter to address these concerns.

Reacting to the criticism, Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, acknowledged the respected status of both Jonathan and Soyinka but clarified that their opinions were personal.

Ajayi maintained that the actions taken by President Tinubu were in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, specifically Section 305, which grants the president the authority to declare a state of emergency.

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.”