|By Adejumo Adekunle-
-Amaechi Accuses Tinubu of Breaking Constitution Over Rivers Crisis
–Says National Assembly Backed President’s Unlawful Action with Silence
Former Minister of Transportation and ex-Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of violating Nigeria’s constitution by removing elected Governor Siminalayi Fubara and declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Amaechi also slammed the National Assembly, branding it a “very weak institution” that aided Tinubu in establishing what he described as an illegal government in the oil-rich South-South state.
He made these remarks during the 9th Edition of the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation (AAF) Annual Leadership Discourse held in Lagos on Tuesday. The event was themed: “Fearless Leadership: A Panacea for Sustainable Development.”
Amaechi declared that Tinubu’s actions were not only unlawful but also undermined the sanctity of the country’s constitution, likening the constitution to the Bible of the nation.
“For a governor or a president who subscribes to such a concept, it is what he or she does that is law. It is not what is in the book that is law,” Amaechi said.
“This is where government is not by law, but by the whims and caprices of an individual leader. Like the current pronouncement of an illegal and unconstitutional state of emergency in Rivers State, aided by weak institutions like the National Assembly, which is very weak.”
He warned that the president’s decision to remove a democratically elected governor and appoint a military man, Ibok-Ete Ibas, as state administrator had set a dangerous precedent that Nigeria seemed to be ignoring.
“Now, this breach of the constitution is a breach of the sacredness and sanctity of the constitution. The constitution of a country is the Bible of that country, and its sanctity must be protected,” Amaechi stated.
“Can we say the same in Nigeria? Obviously, the response would be a resounding no. The president looked at the whole Nigeria and removed an elected governor in Rivers State and appointed a military man, yet the country continued. Nothing happened.”
Recall that President Tinubu, a few weeks ago, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State following a prolonged political crisis between Governor Fubara and the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. He also suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and members of the State Assembly, appointing retired Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the new administrator.
