The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday, was part of plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to capture South-South geopolitical zone in 2027.
PDP National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, however said Siminalayi Fubara, under the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), still remain the elected governor of Rivers State.
Ologunagba who was joined at the press conference by the Chairman South-South zonal caretaker committee Emmanuel Ogidi, said “the constitution does not empower the president to dismantle a tier of government, or appoint a sole administrator to take office as state governor or to override the duties of the State Assembly under any situation.”
He accused Tinubu of attempt to overturn a democratic government and foist an undemocratic regime in Nigeria, which he said, is a “violation of Sections 1 (2), 14(2)(a), 180, 217(2)(b) (c) and 305 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
According to him, the purported suspension of Governor Fubara cannot stand because it is unconstitutional, impracticable and invalid.
Ologunagba stated that President Tinubu violated the Constitution by ordering that the proclamation of state of emergency in Rivers State should take immediate effect without the approval of the National Assembly, which is a precondition for the commencement of a state of emergency.
He reminded Tinubu that what Section 305 (2) of the Constitution expects him to do is to, immediately after the publication, “transmit copies of the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation containing the proclamation including the details of the emergency to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each of whom shall forthwith convene or arrange for a meeting of the House of which he is President or Speaker, as the case may be, to consider the situation and decide whether or not to pass a resolution approving the proclamation.”
Ogidi, the caretaker committee Chairman, said APC wants to capture River State in 2027.
He noted that throughout his speech, Tinubu blamed Fubara for everything “but what happens to the chief instigator?
“No mention was mentioned of the FCT minister, his own minister, who we all know, is the chief instigator. He has had several press briefings, has insulted elders, has insulted the Ijaw nation.”
Ogidi recalled that the FCT minister, Nysom Wike had promised to deliver River State to APC, adding, “he is not going to stop at River State, his target now is the South-South.
“Only last Saturday, he went to Abulama; he went with a contingent of soldiers. A minister, going about with a contingent of soldiers.
“So when the thing was announced on Tuesday, we were not surprised because he (Tinubu) has found a loose cannon; a man who has no respect for authorities, who believes in his own self. That’s why he is doing what he is doing.”
Echezona Okafor.
