El-Rufai Sends Message To Tinubu Over Suspension of Fubara, State of Emergency in Rivers
- The former Kaduna governor has called President Tinubu’s state of emergency decision unconstitutional, warning that it threatened Nigeria’s democratic federalism
- El-Rufai argued that while Rivers’ security issues were serious, suspending elected officials was an overreach and set a dangerous precedent
- El-Rufai urged Tinubu to reverse the decision, citing historical parallels and advocating for constitutional governance
The former governor of Kaduna state, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has called on President Bola Tinubu to reconsider his decision to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers and impose a state of emergency in the oil-rich state.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, March 20, El-Rufai argued that the move was unconstitutional and dangerous for Nigeria’s democratic federalism.
Source: Twitter
El-Rufai tackles Tinubu over suspension of Fubara
The statement shared via his X handle noted that the Nigerian Constitution does not grant the president the power to suspend elected officials at the state level.
He warned that such an action sets a dangerous precedent for the country’s democracy.
“There are things that are so clearly wrong that the justifications summoned in their defence fall flat. The decision of Mr. President to suspend the elected officials of the Rivers State Government is one of those.
"Our country’s Constitution does not support it precisely because it is dangerous to our system of democratic federalism for an elected president to assume and exercise powers to suspend elected officials at the state level," he said.
El-Rufai emphasised that while security concerns in Rivers state should be addressed with urgency, suspending democratic structures was an unnecessary overreach.
El-Rufai proffers alternative measures
The former governor acknowledged the importance of tackling security threats but insisted that the situation in Rivers should have been handled differently.
“The security issues cited in the President’s speech surely deserve the most serious attention and sustained efforts to contain the threats and preserve vital national infrastructure.
"A state of emergency could surely have been proclaimed to grant the relevant security agencies the extraordinary powers and necessary resources to enable them to address the problem," he said.
He argued that emergency measures should not include dismantling democratic structures, describing such actions as a violation of democratic principles and the rule of law.
El-Rufai tells Tinubu to reconsider
Source: Twitter
El-Rufai urged President Tinubu to reverse the decision and uphold the constitutional rights of Rivers state’s elected leaders.
He recalled that as an opposition figure, Tinubu had previously opposed a state of emergency declared by former President Goodluck Jonathan in the north-east, even though it did not involve suspending elected officials.
“It is my view that Mr. President should review this decision and return to the path of constitutionalism and the rule of law," he said.
El-Rufai warns Tinubu against repeating history
El-Rufai further cautioned against allowing history to repeat itself, referencing the events of 1962 when emergency rule was imposed in the Western Region, leading to significant political unrest.
Read also
Former senator calls Tinubu's state of emergency order 'reckless' as Rivers boils in crisis
“Let us not keep silent while the slippery slope of replicating the events of emergency rule in the old Western Region in 1962 unfolds before our very eyes.”
He called on all patriots and advocates of democracy to speak out against what he described as a “gross violation of the Constitution and disrespect for the rule of law.”
With tensions already high in Rivers state, El-Rufai’s intervention adds to the growing calls for President Tinubu to rethink his decision and find a more constitutionally sound approach to resolving the crisis.
Tinubu meets new Rivers' administrator after suspending Fubara
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that President Tinubu met with the newly appointed sole administrator of Rivers state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), at the presidential villa in Abuja on Wednesday, March 19.
Vice Admiral Ibas (Rtd), who once served as the chief of Naval Staff, reportedly arrived at Aso Rock at about 12:50 pm, with the plan to hold a meeting with the president.
The meeting between the president and the military leader came hours after he was announced as an emergency measure in the oil-rich state.
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Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
Ezra Ukanwa (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Ezra Ukanwa is a Reuters-certified journalist with over 5 years of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Anchor University, Lagos. Currently, he is the Politics and Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng, where he brings his expertise to provide incisive, impactful coverage of national events. Ezra was recognized as Best Campus Journalist at the Anchor University Communications Awards in 2019 and is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). Contact him at: ezra.ukanwa@corp.legit.ng or +2349036989944
Nkem Ikeke (Copy editor) Nkem Ikeke is currently a copy editor who also writes for the politics and current affairs desk on weekends. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2010), and has over 10 years of work experience in the media industry (Reporter, News Agency of Nigeria). Email: n.ikeke@corp.legit.ng
