NewStats: 3,261,110 , 8,173,058 topics. Date: Wednesday, 28 May 2025 at 09:03 AM 6d657

Atiku arrives along with El-Rufai, Ihedioha, Babachir Lawal and Tanko of Obidient movement. They will be asking National Assembly not to approve Tinubu’s state of emergency. Tanko is representing Peter Obi

T PRESS CONFERENCE BY CONCERNED LEADERS AND POLITICAL STAKEHOLDERS IN NIGERIA ON THE UNCONSTITUTIONAL DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE BY PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU

Fellow Nigerians,

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.

The Constitutional Violations

1.Illegal Removal of a Governor and State Assembly
The Nigerian Constitution does not empower the President to remove an elected Governor, Deputy Governor, or State Assembly under any circumstances. The procedure for removing a Governor is clearly outlined in Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) through an impeachment process initiated by the State House of Assembly—not by presidential proclamation.

2.Misuse of Section 305 on State of Emergency
Section 305 of the Constitution allows the President to declare a State of Emergency only in extreme cases where public safety, national security, or Nigeria’s sovereignty is at serious risk. However, it does not grant him the power to suspend elected officials or to demolish democratic structures as is currently being attempted.

Furthermore, Section 305(1) states that any proclamation of emergency is subject to the provisions of the Constitution—meaning it cannot override the tenure and removal procedures of a Governor.

3.Failure to Meet Constitutional Requirements for Emergency Rule
The conditions under Section 305(3) for declaring a state of emergency include:

War or external aggression
Breakdown of public order and safety
Natural disasters or any other grave emergency threatening Nigeria’s corporate existence

None of these conditions exist in current circumstances in Rivers State. There is no war, no widespread violence, and no breakdown of law and order warranting emergency rule.

4.Failure to Follow Due Process
Even if an emergency declaration were valid (which it is not), it would still require a two-thirds majority approval of ALL of the National Assembly—that is, at least, 72 Senators and 240 of the House of Representatives. If this approval is not secured, the proclamation must automatically cease to have effect.

5.Alternative Legal Avenues Were Ignored
If the issue was the dysfunction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the President could have encouraged the National Assembly to intervene under Section 11 of the Constitution. However, even under such an intervention, the Governor and Deputy Governor cannot be removed by any arm of government except through constitutional means, as the proviso to S. 11(4) clearly provides.

A Manufactured Crisis for Political Control

This State of Emergency declaration is not about security—it is about power. The disagreements within Rivers State stem from the defection of 27 Assembly from the PDP to the APC, their loss of seats under constitutional provisions, and the subsequent political manoeuvring to undermine the Governor’s mandate.

Rather than allowing the law to take its course, the federal government has engineered a crisis to justify this unconstitutional action. The excuse of pipeline vandalism—an issue squarely under the control of federal security agencies and privately contracted security firms—is laughable. If security breaches are the concern, the first question should be: Who controls the police, the military, and the DSS? The Governor or the President?

Our Demand and Call to Action

1.Immediate Reversal: We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately revoke this unconstitutional proclamation and reinstate the elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and State Assembly of Rivers State.

2.National Assembly's Rejection: We call on patriotic Senators and Representatives to vote against this illegal action when it comes before them for approval. The National Assembly must not be used to legitimise an unconstitutional power grab.

3.Judicial Intervention: We urge the judiciary to act swiftly in striking down this proclamation, as it sets a dangerous precedent that could be used to arbitrarily remove any Governor in the future.

4.Nigerians Must Defend Democracy: We call on all civil society organisations, political groups, and Nigerians of good conscience to stand firm in the defence of this democracy that we have all toiled to build. Rivers State is not a conquered territory, and Nigeria is not a dictatorship requiring the replacement of an ELECTED GOVERNOR with a MILITARY .

Conclusion

A peaceful Niger Delta is critical to the economic health and stability of Nigeria. The federal government should not manufacture political crises that could disrupt this fragile stability.

We must never allow personal political interests to override the principles of federalism, democracy, and constitutional governance. This is not just about Rivers State—it is about the future of Nigeria’s democracy.

We thank you all.

Thursday, 20th March, 2025

Werey people, where Sim they are fighting for? What effort have they made in the past to mend fence between Sim and the state house of assembly , is wike above the PDP as a party, They should punish wike and his boys first.

It’s highly illegal and unconstitutional . Meanwhile, Tinubu Declaring State of Emergency in Rivers State is illegal and Unconstitutional -Babajide of TVC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tACDVRT0yc

Food is done.

These guys were taking sides when the fire was raging. Some of them even lambasted Fubara for submitting himself to the peace broker by the president back then.

Don’t mind those useless people

Moroccoguy:
Werey people, where Sim they are fighting for? What effort have they made in the past to mend fence between Sim and the state house of assembly , is wike above the PDP as a party, They should punish wike and his boys first.

No sane person with agree with this lawlessness called state of emergency. The whole thing is an ego fight by Wike against a seating governor though it is known that he got there via Wike's rigging.

A lots of democratic and constitutional abuse under this tyrannical govt. So much have been bastardised under Tinubu. Rule of law no more hold, nor democratic institution and seperation of power respected.

Atiku the coward.

Why is he opposing Tinubu action? Is it because he is a Yoruba man?

OK ,..

see politics ,


meanwhile





when some leaders are in some positions ,




they will do worst ,




Princess Faith Chukwu

I stand with them. Tinubu is daft. Whatever he is smoking is not good for him.

We say no to TYRANNY!

Tinubu gets iron balls
Meanwhile someone should tell this thing to go and see his doctors

Humm
The country is so hard now, I can't keep quiet any longer. Really need your help guys.
Whatever u can, please .

Nine zero/57/four one/nine 8/zero/7
Moniepoint.

Lol this people are clearly mad and would jump on anything that would make them look relevant... Fubara should be careful not to allow the drug lord destroy his state, along side this northern lackies

Game on
Let see scores at the end of the day

Yes ooo. Tell that thief in Aso Rock that was he did is unconstitutional.

Like the energy of the coalition. There will be shake down lin 2027.

Me just know say I done give up for Nigeria matters

I repeat this was a genius move by Tinubu. It has saved face for 2 groups who driven by ego refused to back down and would have created a crisis that would have affected the rest of the country.

Wike can say na Tinubu save Fubara
And Fubara is saved from impeachment.


Be under no illusions neither side would have backed down.


All these commentary by Atiku and other fifth columnists shows they are irresponsible leaders if they can’t see where this was heading

The assembly will likely not ratify the proclamation in which case Fubara and the assembly will be back in 0ffice tonight. When Fubara is impeached don’t point fingers at Tinubu, he tried to avert it.

Bunch of fools

Where were they when the fire was raging, they didn't say anything but now they have suddenly turned activists

They will fail as usual so no big deal

Tinubu is wrong on the state of emergency in Rivers. Those cheering Tinubu and Fg on should stop defending nonsense. Yes, he has the constitutional right to declare it, but the state isn't yet at war. What stops him from calling Wike (who is a major protagonist in the brouhaha) to order. I know they think they are being politically smart by putting Rivers in their pocket, it may eventually boomerang.. Time will tell

PDP were planning to use river state funds to prosecute their election in 2027.

Now it gone.

Hahahahahaha e pain dem. Obi grigry too should do his press shit as well.

2/3 of national Assembly? Let's see how he gets it

See how they will leave the people present and talk about Peter Obi.

This is an opportunity to occupy the streets of Rivers State and demand an immediate reversal of that unconditional declaration by the Yoruba President


He even had the audacity to swear-in the so-called Sole before National Assembly ratified his unconstitutional declaration

Hope in this press conference we would hear the suspension of Wike taking immediate effect or else all they are doing their is a sham.

If there is anything I like about Nasir-El-rufai is his boldness.

El-rufai along with governors like Matewalle, Yahaya Bello and few Northern Governors fought Emefiele to a standstill during the Naira re-design policy.

PBAT never knew he would get this type of resistance from virtually every SANE person apart from his benefactors, handlers and bi-polars (Reno Omokori), I think PBAT was thinking Rivers is Lagos State House of Assembly where he could manage it as a family affair.

Commendable moves here.

Racoon:
No sane person with agree with this lawlessness called state of emergency. The whole thing is an ego fight by Wike against a seating governor though it is known that he got there via Wike's rigging.

A lots of democratic and constitutional abuse under this tyrannical govt. So much have been bastardised under Tinubu. Rule of law no more hold, nor democratic institution and seperation of power respected.

so u Rae telling us that obi will not declare state of emergency if a governor demolishes house of assembly, didn't say a word about pipeline bombing?

Just yes or no

Racoon:
No sane person with agree with this lawlessness called state of emergency. The whole thing is an ego fight by Wike against a seating governor though it is known that he got there via Wike's rigging.

A lots of democratic and constitutional abuse under this tyrannical govt. So much have been bastardised under Tinubu. Rule of law no more hold, nor democratic institution and seperation of power respected.

Guy, do you even have anything else you do with your life rather than chest beating and crying of victimisation from morning till night, everyday!?

You guys that call yourselves Igbo Obidients are the funniest political analysts anywhere in the world for real. The reasonable people will tell you how a political situation will turn but instead of listening to the voice of reason you start shouting "let him try it, the country will burn, yen yen yen".... But later start crying of foul play when real matter sup. 😂 😂 😂


Political sense, zero!
Emotion 💯
Smh

Make this Atiku. sef rest sef na pdp wey dey carry ticket na i blame

Jpdp are not smart now u have s.een after buhari obi the next policcal force not even kwankwaso can match obi now a candidate that can win Lagos, abuja and warri with LP imagine what he will do with PDP with structure already in place . Give obi automatic ticket even with inec obi go beat Tinubu

THE NEED TO START OPPOSING THE JUDIUCIARY.



THE SUPREME BOUGHT COURT IS TURNING TO A NUISANCE IN THIS COUNTRY AND EMBOLDENING CRIMINALS.

Every Tom, Dick and Harry now have opportunity to feign relevance by releasing statements.

Bunch of mediocre

T= Terrible
I = Ineffectual buffon
N = Nimcompoop
U = Undemocratic
B = Balablu
U = Undeserving

Smh