The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remove Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara from office, calling it reckless and unconstitutional.
Obi warned that such actions promote impunity and could weaken Nigeria’s democracy.
Writing on his X handle on Wednesday, Obi stated, “The unilateral decision of President Bola Tinubu to remove Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State from office is not only unconstitutional but also reckless. It has plunged us back into a state of lawlessness, hugely undoing the progress we have made in these 26 years of democratic journey.”
He argued that by ignoring the rule of law, the President is undermining democracy. He described the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State as “a clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten its grip on power at all costs.”
Obi further noted that the situation in Rivers State does not justify such extreme measures, adding that Tinubu’s decision misinterprets Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution. He emphasized that a state of emergency does not grant the President the power to unilaterally remove an elected governor. According to Obi, the move does not align with democratic values or good governance but seems to serve specific political interests rather than the well-being of Rivers State and the country.
He warned that such unconstitutional overreach sets a dangerous precedent, threatening democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers. “If left unchecked, it could foster a culture of impunity. Having already been grappling with non-adherence to electoral qualifications, rules, and massive rigging, adding arbitrary removal of elected officials will push us to a state of nature and anarchy,” he said.
Obi called on the National Assembly and all relevant stakeholders to prevent this action from standing, stressing that allowing it would only worsen the growing trend of impunity threatening Nigeria’s democracy.
