From Victor Osula, Abuja
Opposition political leaders, led by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, have called on Nigerians to rise in defense of democracy and reject the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku, alongside Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and former Imo State governor, Emeka Ihedioha, made the call during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Tinubu, in a nationwide address on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the executive and legislature while appointing retired naval officer Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as administrator.
Speaking on the development, the opposition figures strongly condemned the decision, describing it as unconstitutional and a dangerous precedent.
They demanded the immediate reversal of the proclamation and the reinstatement of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
Atiku, speaking on behalf of the group, said, “We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revoke this unconstitutional proclamation and restore the elected government of Rivers State immediately.
“We urge patriotic Senators and Representatives to reject this illegal move when it comes before them. The National Assembly must choose to be on the right side of history and not become an instrument for legitimizing an unconstitutional power grab.
“We also call on the judiciary to act swiftly in striking down this proclamation before it sets a precedent for arbitrarily removing governors in the future.
“We urge civil society organizations, political groups, and Nigerians of conscience to stand firm in defense of democracy. Rivers State is not a conquered territory, and Nigeria is not a dictatorship that replaces elected officials with military administrators.”
The opposition leaders also noted that past administrations had declared states of emergency in troubled regions without removing elected governors, stressing that Tinubu’s move represented a disturbing shift in Nigeria’s democratic trajectory.
They warned that destabilising the Niger Delta could have severe economic consequences, reminding the federal government of the efforts made by past administrations to restore peace to the region.
“We must not allow personal political interests to plunge Nigeria into chaos through blatant disregard for federalism, democracy, and constitutional governance. This is not just about Rivers State—it is about the survival of Nigeria’s democracy,” Atiku added.
