Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has strongly condemned the declaration of an emergency rule in Rivers State, calling it an unconstitutional and illegal action by the federal government. In a statement released today, Amaechi stated that the government of President Bola Tinubu must be made to understand, in no uncertain terms, that such a move is a direct violation of democratic principles and the rights of the people of Rivers State.
"The unconstitutional and illegal declaration of an emergency rule in Rivers State cannot be allowed to stand. It is a flagrant abuse of power by the Federal Government. Rivers State, like every other state in Nigeria, is a sovereign entity within the federation and should be allowed to govern itself according to the will of its people," Amaechi remarked.
Amaechi, who is also a former governor of Rivers State, noted that the state has a history of peaceful governance and that the federal government’s action is a clear attempt to undermine the rule of law and destabilize the democratic order. He added that any attempts to further entrench military-style governance under the guise of "emergency rule" would be vehemently opposed.
"The Nigerian people must not tolerate the erosion of their hard-earned democracy. President Tinubu must understand that the imposition of emergency rule without legal and constitutional grounds cannot be allowed to persist. Rivers State has been a beacon of democracy and the people's will must be respected," Amaechi said.
He also called on the National Assembly and civil society organizations to take swift action to ensure that the rule of law is upheld, warning that the federal government’s actions have far-reaching implications for the country’s democratic integrity.