Atiku, Obi, El-Rufai, Babachir, Others Urge NASS to Reject State of Emergency in Rivers
Prominent opposition leaders in Nigeria, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi, ex-Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, have called on the National Assembly to reject President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
In a joint statement issued at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, the opposition leaders demanded that President Tinubu immediately revoke what they called an unconstitutional proclamation and reinstate the elected governor, deputy governor, and State Assembly of Rivers State.
Other figures present at the conference included Yunusa Tanko, who represented Peter Obi, the national secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Peter Ahmeh, and Segun Showunmi, convenor of The Alternative, among others. Apologies were read on behalf of former governors Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti State), and former APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Adamu.
Reading a communique on behalf of the opposition coalition, Atiku condemned the state of emergency declaration, calling it both unconstitutional and illegal. He outlined the coalition’s demands:
- Immediate Reversal of Declaration: “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.”
- National Assembly 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 stand on the right side of history and not allow itself to be used to legitimise an unconstitutional power grab.”
- 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.”
Atiku also stressed the significance of maintaining peace in the Niger Delta, noting that past administrations had worked hard to restore stability in the region, vital for Nigeria’s economic health. He warned that political crises, such as the one sparked by the state of emergency, could undo these efforts and destabilize the country.
“We must never allow personal political interests and the desire to hold on to power at all costs to throw the country into unavoidable chaos through brazen subversion of the principles of federalism, democracy, and constitutional governance,” Atiku stated. “This is not just about Rivers State; it is about the future of Nigeria’s democracy.”
