Former President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed his disapproval of President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of elected officials in Rivers State, stating that it risks damaging Nigeria’s reputation.
Speaking at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja, Jonathan conveyed his disappointment with the removal of elected officials.
“These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light,” he said.
Jonathan’s criticism follows President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which included the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members of the state’s House of Assembly.
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President Tinubu cited the need to restore stability in the state, which has been experiencing political unrest due to a dispute between the governor and state lawmakers, as the reason for his decision.
“By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months,” the President declared.
The president appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas as the state’s administrator to oversee governance.
“In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate,” he said.
Despite the tradition of former presidents refraining from public commentary on political matters to avoid escalating tensions, Goodluck Jonathan felt compelled to speak on the Rivers State situation due to widespread public appeals, given his status as a prominent figure from the Niger Delta region.
He emphasized that a nation’s image and investment attractiveness are significantly influenced by the actions of its executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Jonathan expressed concern over instances where individuals appear to dictate judicial outcomes, eroding public trust in the judiciary.
President Tinubu justified the state of emergency by citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, stating it was necessary to restore peace. He also confirmed that the proclamation had been officially published and submitted to the National Assembly.
Tinubu added, “This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution.
“It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”
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