A former Rivers State Governor and ex-Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi has strongly opposed President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and the state’s lawmakers.
Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on Tuesday, March 18, citing an ongoing political crisis. He suspended the democratically elected government and appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.) as the Sole Administrator for “an initial period of six months.”
Amaechi: “This Is a Power Grab”
Amaechi, who governed Rivers State from 2007 to 2015, said Tinubu’s action violates the Nigerian Constitution.
In a statement on Wednesday, he called it a power grab and warned that it could push Nigeria towards totalitarianism.
“This is clearly unconstitutional,” Amaechi said. “Well-meaning Nigerians must speak up against this abuse of power.”
He urged the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) to intervene. “The NGF can reverse these unlawful actions and protect our democracy,” he stated.
His statement reads, “Unequivocally, I condemn the rather brazen and unilaterally reckless suspension and removal of the Governor of Rivers State, the Deputy Governor of Rivers State and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“With this singular move, Mr President has technically suspended and truncated democracy in Rivers State. This clearly violates our Constitution, the same Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that Mr. President swore to uphold.
“Section 188 of the Nigeria Constitution, clearly stipulates how a State Governor can be removed from office. And it does not include a fiat declaration, decree or promulgation by Mr. President. Therefore, he cannot appropriate such powers to himself.
“A democratically elected State Governor cannot be removed from office by a proclamation of Mr. President. The suspension of two key democratically elected arms of Government in Rivers State by Mr. President evidently violates our Constitution, even within the scope and interpretation of Section 305 that the President cited in his broadcast.
“The unlawful suspension of elected democratic institutions in my dear Rivers State points to a brazen attempt at power grab in the State by forces and persons who do not have such Constitutional powers. The unfolding events in Rivers State in the past months, points to a clear orchestrated plot by some persons to unconstitutionally perpetrate and impose themselves on the people.
“At this inauspicious moment in our nation’s trajectory, all people of goodwill and conscience should rise to oppose this audacious violation of our Constitution and rape of our democracy. Mr President must be made to know and understand in unmistakable terms that this illegality cannot stand.
“Politicians across divides should speak up; rise to halt our nation’s descent into totalitarianism. State Governors and Legislators should speak up now. I urge the National Assembly to reject this illegality.
“As a former State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), I am not unaware of the role elected Governors in the country can play to halt this descent and reverse the unlawful actions of Mr. President. I commend the Governors that have spoken against the unlawful suspension.
“The suspension is a very dangerous affront on Nigeria’s Constitution and democracy.”
Chief Bode George
Former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, also condemned President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Reacting to the declaration, Bode George described the it as a blatant disregard for constituted authority.
“This is absolute Armageddon—total disrespect for constituted authority. The Constitution has been viciously violated.
“We can’t keep quiet. This is recklessness of the highest order. What did Fubara do? As Commander-in-Chief, Tinubu gave Wike soldiers and security agents to destabilize Rivers State. The governor has no control over security agencies, yet he remained calm. Nobody has explained what he did to warrant this dictatorial emergency rule.
“This is exactly how it started in 1962 and 1983. It’s a dress rehearsal for what Tinubu wants to do in 2027. The APC wants to take control of all states through unconstitutional means.”
He questioned the legality of Tinubu’s actions, asking
“Did he get National Assembly approval before his broadcast? What happened in Rivers is the hand of Esau and the voice of Jacob. Why didn’t he declare a state of emergency in Lagos when lawmakers were fighting? Why invite Diete-Spiff and Niger Delta leaders last week if he already planned this?”
George concluded, “Is Tinubu now becoming a civilian dictator?”
Peter Obi
Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general elections, chastised the President for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, describing it as unconstitutional, reckless, and a threat to democracy.
In a statement on Wednesday, Obi criticised the President’s unilateral removal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, warning that the action “plunges us back into a state of lawlessness, hugely undoing the progress we have made in these 26 years of democratic journey.”
The Labour Party leader accused Tinubu of disregarding the rule of law, arguing that the emergency declaration was a “clear attempt to return us to a state of nature and tighten its grip on power at all costs.”
“It is a degrading back-door imposition of martial rule on a strategic part of the federation, with all the implied negatives,” Obi stated, insisting that the political situation in Rivers does not justify such an extreme measure.
Obi also challenged Tinubu’s interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution, stressing that declaring a state of emergency does not grant the President the power to unilaterally remove an elected governor.
“This decision does not align with democratic norms or good governance. Instead, it appears to be a predetermined action serving specific interests rather than the collective good of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria,” he said.
He further warned that if left unchecked, the move could set a dangerous precedent, weaken the rule of law, and 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,” Obi cautioned.
The former governor of Anambra State urged the National Assembly and all democratic stakeholders to resist Tinubu’s emergency rule in Rivers, warning that allowing it to stand would further entrench impunity and threaten Nigeria’s democracy.
“I appeal to the National Assembly and all stakeholders not to allow this to stand, as it only deepens the culture of impunity and brigandage already threatening our democracy,” Obi declared.
Chief Dele Momodu
Publisher, Dele Momodu, has reacted to the declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Tinubu.
In a post shared on Instagram, Momodu said instead of the President calling his Minister, Nyesom Wike, to order, he chose to throw an elected government out of office.
He wrote; “Those who fail to learn the lessons of HISTORY often become its victims… I have nothing but pity for those who seek to capture NIGERIA, either brazenly or surreptitiously… Instead of a simple call to WIKE by the PRESIDENT asking him to face his assignment in ABUJA and leave RIVERS STATE alone, TINUBU prefers to over-pamper a troublemaker by throwing away an elected government through the backdoor… ALLAH AKBAR.”
Senate Failed To Debate Emergency Rule
The Senate has suspended its plenary and postponed its debate on President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State to Thursday, March 20, 2025.
The debate was postponed due to the delay in the commencement of the plenary on Wednesday, March 19.
The debate was initially scheduled to begin at 3 pm, but Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who moved the motion, stepped down discussions on the matter citing Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended).
The motion was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, PDP, Benue South.
In his motion, Senator Bamidele expressed apprehension of the security situation in Rivers State.
The motion read, “Worried that there is a clear and present danger of the crises as some militants had threatened fire and brimstone, with security reports indicating disturbing incidents of vandalization of oil pipelines.
“Convinced that there is the need to provide adequate and extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order, and security in Rivers State.”
Earlier, the Senate confirmed receiving correspondence from President Bola Tinubu regarding the six-month suspension imposed on Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Recall that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency on Tuesday in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
House of Representatives Fail to Debate Too
Despite earlier assurances, the House of Representatives on Wednesday failed to deliberate on President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency declaration in Rivers State.
This comes after the House’s spokesperson, Hon. Akin Rotimi, had stated that the issue would be discussed during the day’s plenary.
Following Tinubu’s Tuesday nationwide broadcast, where he announced the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the state’s lawmakers, Hon. Rotimi had confirmed that the President had formally notified the National Assembly.
“The National Assembly was duly consulted by the President. Mr. President’s formal letter, informing the House of Representatives of his decision and seeking approval in line with Section 305 of the Constitution, has been transmitted and will be read during plenary tomorrow, Wednesday, March 19, 2025,” Rotimi had stated.
However, contrary to expectations, the House did not deliberate on the matter during Wednesday’s session, leaving many Nigerians disappointed.
Plenary Adjourned Due to Poor Attendance
Investigations revealed that the failure to discuss the issue was due to low turnout of lawmakers at the plenary session.
During the sitting, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu, fewer than 120 members were present out of the 360-member chamber.
Sources within the House disclosed that lawmakers opted to defer the discussion to Thursday’s plenary, when attendance is expected to improve.
Several House members declined to comment on the postponement but assured that deliberations will take place once the issue is formally tabled before the House.
FG Ready to Release Rivers Funds to Ibas
However, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, has said the Federal Government will be acting in order if it releases the blocked monthly allocation to the newly sworn-in Sole Administrator for Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.).
The justice minister, who spoke with State House correspondents at the Villa on Wednesday, said an extraordinary situation had arisen in the oil-rich state hence the initial seizure of allocation might be overruled.
Fagbemi said, “An extraordinary situation has arisen in Rivers State. When the administrator comes, he may request for these funds, and to me, it will be in order for the release of that fund, because the extraordinary situation has brought them out of the normal situation of things.”
Political Crisis in Rivers State
The crisis in Rivers State has been ongoing for months, mainly due to a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The dispute had split the state assembly into rival factions, leading to political instability. Some lawmakers support Fubara, while others align with Wike.
Tinubu’s emergency rule has received mixed reactions. Opposition leaders, legal experts, and civil society groups have rejected the suspension of an elected government. However, lawmakers loyal to Wike have praised Tinubu’s decision, accusing Fubara of disobeying court rulings.
As protests continue, many Nigerians are waiting to see how the remaining cases in the courts, the National Assembly, and political leaders will manage the political logjam.
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