The president wants a power grab. They want to frighten governors who may not support them in 2027. So, there is a rumour everywhere that if you are not careful, the president will remove you.
Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, has expressed his disapproval of President Bola Tinubu‘s recent declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State. He implied that the president is trying to frighten governors into supporting his reelection bid in 2027 by describing this move as politically motivated.
On Tuesday, March 18, President Tinubu announced a state of emergency in Rivers state due to the political crises and instability that has been plaguing the state.
Additionally, Tinubu placed Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and other members of the Rivers assembly, under suspension for a term of six months.
Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who had previously served as Chief of Naval Staff, was also appointed by Tinubu to serve as the sole administrator for a period of six months.
On Thursday, March 20, the National Assembly adopted the proclamation and gave it its final approval.
In an interview with DW Africa that took place on Friday, Amaechi made the accusation that President Tinubu was using the emergency rule as a means to stifle opposition governors and consolidate control.
Amaechi said, “It is between the president and the FCT minister. The president wants a power grab. They want to frighten governors who may not support them in 2027. So, there is a rumour everywhere that if you are not careful, the president will remove you.
“If the president said it is because of insecurity, because they blew the pipeline, what about parts of the country where there is insecurity? Is the president saying they should impose emergency rule on him too?
“They can’t because he is a democratically elected president. Nobody can impose an emergency rule on him because there is serious insecurity in the north-east, north-west, even in south-east and south-west.
“Rivers governor has no security responsibility, it rests squarely on the president. So why punish a man who did not commit an offence?
“The president acted outside the Constitution. Section 188 states how a governor can leave office, either by death, resignation, or impeachment.
“It didn’t say that one day you wake up and a man called the president of Nigeria will throw you out of office, which makes democracy unstable.
“The fight between the current governor of Rivers State and the FCT minister is about sharing money. If not, what is the quarrel? Nigerians don’t dislike corruption anymore.
“I’ve not seen anybody on the street querying what the problem is. Can both of them speak to the public and tell us what the problem is?
“We are now denied democracy. Rivers State is the only state in the country currently not enjoying democracy. They have imposed military rule on us.”