₦airaland Forum

I just stumbled on a story in The Cable this morning claiming that President Bola Tinubu's henchmen in the Senate and House are struggling to gather enough votes to rubber-stamp his unconstitutional suspension of democracy in Rivers State and installation of a retired military officer as sole administrator.


Frankly, it's hard to believe. Most of our legislators have a reputation for having price tags attached rather openly to their principles, or what's left of them.

Yet, if by some miracle this story checks out, I'll gladly eat my skepticism. It might mean that amid Nigeria’s ocean of opportunists, there's still a handful willing to occasionally pretend they have backbones.

Yes, the constitution indeed allows Tinubu to declare a state of emergency, but nowhere does it grant him the authority to suspend elected governors, deputies, or legislators.

The idea of installing a "sole administrator" is a ghostly relic of Nigeria’s dark era of military absolutism.

Remember, former President Obasanjo pulled this stunt in Ekiti in 2006, not because the state burned uncontrollably, like Plateau State in 2004, but simply because he didn't like the governor. So, he accused of corruption, which became the basis for his unconstitutional ouster.

Of course, irony had a good laugh, given Obasanjo himself was swimming in allegations of corruption while citing corruption as his reason for undermining democracy.

Goodluck Jonathan, on the other hand, declared states of emergency in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa because of the escalation of Boko Haram insurgency. But he did so without demolishing elected institutions.

Tinubu, a man who built his political career on the perception of battling military tyranny, now bizarrely aspires to mimic Obasanjo, the very authoritarian he once vehemently condemned.

Is irony on vacation or is hypocrisy now Tinubu’s political philosophy?

If we permit Tinubu to establish this precedent, democracy in Nigeria becomes a sitting duck.

Any future president with a grudge or craving for unchecked power can manufacture a crisis at will, dismantle elected institutions, and impose obedient lackeys as “sole administrators” to rule states by decree.

That's not democracy; that's dictatorship on drip-feed.

https://www.farooqkperogi.com/2025/03/has-tinubus-illegal-rivers-power-grab

Ok

The power play in Rivers state is a sensitive one. We all saw how the state was sabotaged during the elections.

Tinubu’s just trying to clean up the mess left by corrupt officials, sometimes drastic measures are needed to restore order and stability, even if it ruffles a few feathers. 😎

When the senate minus that IPOB senator upholds the State of Emergency for Rivers, Una go switch to lambasting the legislative branch .

Tinubu has allowed Wike to disgrace him

DomPerignon:
When the senate minus that IPOB senator upholds the State of Emergency for Rivers, Una go switch to lambasting the legislative branch .

Fulani herdsmen are killing your mothers and fathers in Ondo like rats but that's not of any concern to you it's Ipob

LagosOrigin:
Fulani herdsmen are killing your mothers and fathers in Ondo like rats but that's not of any concern to you it's Ipob

Shhh!


Didn't you get the memo?


Fulani are now your allies .


Your giringory is hanging around mosques in the north to curry for Muslim support.

Tinubu's and APC penchant for illegality and anything unconstitutional is unprecedented. Buhari was asking for absolute powers - that national security supercedes the rule of law.

Now the useless one on seat today is circumventing the constitution just to grab and snatch. History is beckoning again. The NASS should continue to seat as a lame ducks rubber-stamping anything.

Racoon:
Tinubu's and APC penchant for illegality and anything unconstitutional is unprecedented. Buhari was asking for absolute powers - that national security supercedes the rule of law.

Now the useless one on seat today is circumventing the constitution just to grab and snatch. History is beckoning again. The NASS should continue to seat as a lame ducks rubber-stamping anything.

Cry harder.


Tell your IPOB Senator to start another one man protest for Sim

The president is well within his constitutional right to declare a state of emergency.

Those criticizing him should have the moral courage to say it as it is.

Lets see how it plays out.

Salewa97:
The president is well within his constitutional right to declare a state of emergency.

Those criticizing him should have the moral courage to say it as it is.

Lets see how it plays out.

But not remove the elected officers. He can put military in oil installations.

Don't mind them
They're intentionally shying away from the main problem of the declaration...the suspension.... which is the illegal part of the declaration

iwaeda:
But not remove the elected officers. He can put military in oil installations.

Nlfpmod.