Rivers: 10th National Assembly, A Mere Rubberstamp — Kwankwaso

A national leader of the opposition New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has sharply criticized the 10th National Assembly for its unanimous ratification of the State of Emergency proclamation on Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Similayi Fubara, his deputy, and the entire State House of Assembly by President Bola Tinubu. He described the lawmakers as mere “rubberstamp.”

Kwankwaso, a former two-term governor of Kano State and ex-senator, lamented the actions of the current National Assembly, which he says is repeating the mistakes made by lawmakers during the aborted Third Republic — mistakes that led to the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, considered the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history.

Reflecting on the current situation in Rivers State, Kwankwaso said that instead of checking the executive’s actions, the National Assembly had chosen to support what he called “an illegal decision” by the president. He expressed disappointment that the 10th National Assembly had become “more rubberstamp than any of its predecessors.”

In a post on his verified Facebook page, Kwankwaso stated: “Reflecting on our journey in 1992/93 and the events leading to the annulment in 1993, I remember our mistakes as parliamentarians in the National Assembly, where we focused on leadership tussles instead of holding our primary legislative work. Our failure to hold our responsibility distracted us from the happenings on the Executive side, and which led to the sad events that still define our political history.”

He continued, criticizing President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the governor, deputy governor, and the legislature in Rivers State, noting that the legislature’s primary responsibility is to hold the executive accountable, not to simply follow its lead. He called it “appalling” that the current assembly ratified this proclamation, particularly via a voice vote, which he argued lacked transparency and was not in line with constitutional requirements.

Kwankwaso also expressed concern about the role of the judiciary, emphasizing the importance of fairness in balancing the powers between the different arms of government. He warned that President Tinubu’s actions in Rivers could set a dangerous precedent, undermining democracy and leading to a breakdown in governance, especially in opposition-controlled states.

He further criticized the use of the military in political matters, cautioning that this undermines Nigeria’s democratic progress, particularly after the work done by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to confine the military to the barracks.

Kwankwaso concluded by arguing that the situation in Rivers did not justify the president’s actions, calling it an unconstitutional overreach that could lead to impunity if not checked. He stated: “This proclamation and the subsequent pronouncements by the Attorney General of the Federation have now sent numerous people in states led by the opposition into disarray, as they set a dangerous precedence for how the Head of State can grip on states that do not share the same political standing with the centre.”

Kwankwaso’s statement is a scathing rebuke of both the executive and legislative actions regarding the crisis in Rivers State, reflecting ongoing political tensions and concerns over the balance of power in Nigeria’s democracy.