The former Governor of Kano State from 1999 to 2007 and the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, issued a statement on Thursday expressing grave concern regarding President Bola Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected state legislators. Kwankwaso characterized Tinubu’s actions as an overextension of executive authority that threatens the foundations of democracy.
Drawing from his experiences in the National Assembly during 1992/93, Kwankwaso warned against the repetition of historical errors where lawmakers prioritized internal conflicts over the protection of democratic institutions.
“I have been closely monitoring the situation in Rivers State over the past two days, and my initial reticence was due to my hope that the involved authorities and parties would act appropriately,” Kwankwaso stated.
Nevertheless, he voiced his disappointment regarding Tinubu’s unilateral decision to dismiss elected officials, contending that it contravened the constitution and posed a significant risk to Nigeria’s democratic integrity.
Kwankwaso criticized the 10th National Assembly for failing to uphold democratic values, alleging that it has become a mere rubber stamp for executive overreach. “The legislature must hold the executive accountable rather than simply acquiescing to its demands. It is disheartening to witness this 10th Assembly functioning more as a rubber stamp than any of its predecessors,” he remarked.
He also condemned the way the National Assembly ratified the state of emergency, taking issue with the use of a voice vote for such a significant matter, which he argued lacked transparency and violated due process.
The former governor of Kano urged the judiciary to uphold its independence and resist outside influences. “Our judiciary must fulfill its duty to ease tensions by issuing rulings free from any external pressure,” Kwankwaso emphasized, calling on judges to maintain impartiality in their decisions.
He cautioned that the actions of President Tinubu could establish a troubling precedent for states led by opposition parties, potentially resulting in increased federal intervention in local governance. “This declaration, along with the subsequent statements from the Attorney General of the Federation, has thrown many individuals in opposition-led states into confusion. It creates a perilous precedent for how the president might tighten control over states that do not align politically with the central government,” he warned.
Kwankwaso also condemned the military’s involvement in the governance of Rivers State, asserting that Tinubu, who has long championed democracy, should recognize the risks associated with reintroducing military influence into Nigeria’s political sphere. “For someone who prides himself on being a defender of democracy, involving the military in leadership roles poses a threat to the progress we have achieved over the past 26 years,” Kwankwaso remarked.
He reminded President Tinubu of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s commitment to keeping the military confined to their barracks, cautioning that reversing this trend could have detrimental long-term effects on Nigeria’s democratic development.
In conclusion, Kwankwaso urged the federal government to reassess its actions, asserting that the political climate in Rivers State did not warrant such extreme measures. “I believe that the political circumstances in Rivers do not justify this flawed interpretation of Section 305(1) of the 1999 Constitution. This action represents an unconstitutional overreach, and if left unchecked, it could encourage a culture of impunity,” he warned.
In a related context, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has expressed concerns regarding the possibility that President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of a state of emergency in Rivers could escalate into a disaster reminiscent of the turmoil experienced during the 1962 crisis in the Old Western Region.
Mr. El-Rufai, who has distanced himself from Mr. Tinubu, reminded the president of his previous opposition to emergency rule during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013.
“We must not remain silent as we witness the unfolding of a situation that could mirror the emergency rule events in the Old Western Region in 1962,” Mr. El-Rufai stated in a press release on Wednesday.
The violent conflict in the Old Western Region is widely regarded as a catalyst for a series of coups that ultimately undermined Nigeria’s democracy for many years.
The former governor further noted, “As an opposition leader, Senator Bola Tinubu vocally opposed then-President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to declare a state of emergency in the North-East, even though that declaration did not involve the suspension of elected officials and institutions.”
Criticizing the state of emergency that suspends Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected officials, Mr. El-Rufai emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution “does not endorse such actions, as it poses a significant threat to our democratic federalism for an elected president to assume the authority to suspend state-level elected officials.”
He characterized Mr. Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule as “a blatant violation of democratic principles and the rule of law.”
Mr. Tinubu’s decision to suspend Mr. Fubara, his deputy, and other elected officials in Rivers has faced backlash from numerous Nigerians, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi. Despite their objections, Mr. Tinubu proceeded to swear in the newly appointed sole administrator of Rivers, Ibok Ekwe Ibas, at the State House on Wednesday.
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