Presidency fires back at Jonathan, Soyinka over comments on Rivers emergency rule
…Insists President Tinubu acted within constitutional power
…SERAP takes legal action, sues Tinubu over suspension of Fubara, deputy, lawmakers
…Says suspension violates Nigerian constitution, international law
…As NewsDirect holds webinar on Rivers emergency rule today
The Presidency has countered former President Goodluck Jonathan and Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka over their strong criticisms of the state of emergency declared in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, dismissed their comments as personal opinions, asserting that Tinubu acted within his constitutional mandate in the face of escalating violence in the state.
The ex-president accused the three arms of government in Rivers of abusing power, alleging that all of them contributed to the political crisis in the state.
“A clear abuse of offices, clear abuse of power, clear abuse of privileges, cutting across the three arms of government — from the executive through the parliament and to the judiciary,” he said.
Recall, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) filed a lawsuit against President Bola Tinubu over what it describes as the unlawful suspension of Rivers State Governor, his deputy, and members of the state’s House of Assembly.
The action, initiated on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks to challenge the president’s decision while declaring a state of emergency in the state.
NewsDirect reports that last Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state and suspended the governor and other elected officials for an initial period of six months.
He cited as the basis for his action “the disturbing” violence in the state in the last 24 hours, including explosions and vandalisation of petroleum pipelines, linked to the political crises in the state
The President had relied on Section 305 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution in his decision that has been greeted with criticism from several interest groups, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association, opposition leaders and erudite lawyers.
Meanwhile, in a statement on Sunday, SERAP argued that the decision violates constitutional provisions and undermines democratic governance.
The group said it filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday via three members of its Volunteers’ Lawyers Network (SVLN) in Rivers State—Yirabari Israel Nulog, Nengim Ikpoemugh Royal, and Gracious Eyoh-Sifumbukho.
“The rule of law would be a mere figure of speech if the people’s right to participation can be arbitrarily suspended or violated,” SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare said.
Democracy is an inherent element of the rule of law. Nigeria’s democracy ought to have as its foundation respect for human rights and the rule of law,” the statement read.
To the group, the suspension contradicts both the Nigerian Constitution and international legal obligations, citing the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance.
“The combined provisions of Sections 1(2), 14(1)(c), 176(1)(2), and 305(1) of the Nigerian Constitution create a delicate balance of rights and responsibilities, ensuring that the exercise of presidential power does not override the people’s right to participate in their own governance,” it said.
Among other reliefs sought, the plaintiffs are asking the court for a declaration that Tinubu’s actions are “unlawful, unconstitutional, null, and void” and an injunction restraining the appointed sole administrator from acting in that capacity.
“No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit,” the statement added
In the same vein, the Presidency has dismissed criticisms from former President Goodluck Jonathan and Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, over President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
In a swift reaction, Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, described the comments by Jonathan and Soyinka as mere personal opinions.
Ajayi’s response came on the heels of Jonathan’s assertion that Tinubu’s action could bring Nigeria to disrepute, and Soyinka’s contention that the declaration was against the spirit of federalism.
While speaking at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja, Jonathan expressed disappointment over the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Rivers House of Assembly members, accusing the three arms of government in Rivers of abusing power.
“The government is over-centralised. The debate will go on whether this (state of emergency) was, in the first place, a wise decision but in terms of fundamental principles, I believe that this is against the federal spirit of association,” Soyinka said.
Reacting to their comments, Ajayi said, “Professor Wole Soyinka and former President Goodluck Jonathan are respected statesmen. Like many Nigerians that have offered varied opinions on the President’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, the two distinguished Nigerians have also offered their own opinions too.”
Ajayi insisted that Tinubu’s declaration and the suspension of elected officers in Rivers were part of his duties as president, adding that the president would not fail in his duty to protect the country.
He further stated, “President Tinubu has a country to govern, and he has exercised his power under the 1999 Constitution as amended. President Tinubu has a duty to preserve Nigeria’s corporate existence. He won’t allow any part of the country or state to descend into chaos.
“The Supreme Court ruled that there is no functioning government in Rivers State known to the constitution of Nigeria. President Tinubu won’t fail in his sacred duty to protect and preserve the country.”
In a related development, Nigerian NewsDirect will host a timely webinar today, focusing on the controversial state of emergency declared in Rivers State.
The event will feature a distinguished panel of experts, including legal professionals, political analysts, and former government officials, who will discuss whether the move is truly about restoring peace and security or a political maneuver with deeper implications for Nigeria’s governance and democracy.
The webinar, set to begin at 2pm on X, formerly Twitter, will address the core questions surrounding the state of emergency with the theme: Is it a necessary intervention to restore order in the volatile state, or does it signal a dangerous erosion of democratic processes?
The guests set to share their insights include John Collins Nwobodo, Esq, a lawyer and former Senior Special Assistant to the Enugu State Governor, who will bring a legal perspective to the discussion.
Also, Alhaji Jamiu Babatunde Olawunmi, former Special Adviser on Education to the Osun State Governor and APC chieftain, will provide a political angle, evaluating the potential consequences of the emergency declaration on Nigeria’s federal system.
Senator Babafemi Ojudu, former Special Adviser to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, will lend his expertise on the political ramifications of the move, particularly concerning the opposition and national governance.
Interested participants can join the conversation on X via this link: https://x.com/i/spaces/1lPKqMWayQYKb
