Hold Joint Press Conference in Abuja
- Safiu Kehinde
A joint press conference addressed by key opposition leaders in Nigeria on Thursday asked the National Assembly to reject the request for approval of a State of Emergency slammed on Rivers State.
At the press conference hosted by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; former Governor of Kaduna Nasir El-Rufai, Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general elections Mr. Peter Obi, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal and others, they said the crisis in Rivers state was manufactured to achieve a political end which favours the president’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Mr. Nyesom Wike.
NPO Reported President Bola Tinubu had on Tuesday addressed the nation suspending Governor of the state Sim Fubara and his Deputy.
The president also suspended the House of Assembly for an initial period of six months to douse the political turmoil in the state.
The National Assembly is to debate either to approve or reject the request made the President this morning.
While jointly condemning the declaration, the coalition accused Tinubu of being bias.
“We, a cross-section of leaders and political stakeholders from across the country, have come together to address the dangerous and unconstitutional actions taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on March 18, 2025—to wit, the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State and the illegal suspension of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and the State House of Assembly.
“This action is not only unlawful but a clear attempt to subvert democracy and impose federal control over a duly elected state government.
“We strongly condemn this development and call on all Nigerians of good conscience to resist this brazen assault on constitutional governance. Seemingly, Mr President’s illegal and unconstitutional proclamation was driven by the protracted insidious political crisis in Rivers State, culminating in the recent ruling of the Supreme Court. Ordinarily, all parties involved would have been expected to follow laid-down procedures, motivated by good faith, to quickly implement the judgment of the highest court of the land.
“We note that Governor Fubara’s disposition is geared towards full implementation of the ruling of the Supreme Court, despite provocative statements from opposing quarters. It is also notable that Mr President’s broadcast to the nation on 18th March 2025 betrayed his bias and is infra dig of the sophisticated communication expected from the highest office in the land. By so doing, the President dragged himself and his highly exalted office into the arena of the political brawl, thereby denigrating his high office through inelegant language, predisposed excessiveness and malignant deportment.” they said.
More details later…