Tinubu's Emergency Declaration In Rivers Sparks Controversy Among Legal Minds

Legal Luminary Challenges President Tinubu’s Emergency Move in Rivers State

Hey there, let me tell you something that’s been making waves in the political and legal circles of Nigeria. Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, a former Attorney-General of Rivers State, has come out strongly against President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers. Now, here’s the thing—this isn’t just any old legal opinion; it’s a direct challenge to the President’s actions.

According to Naija News, Mrs. Cookey-Gam insists that the President’s decision is not only unconstitutional but also a blatant grab for power. She’s not mincing words here, folks. She’s calling it like it is, and that’s something we need more of in this country. In a candid interview with Arise News, she laid it all out. This is a former Commissioner of Justice under Governor Peter Odili, so her legal expertise carries a lot of weight.

Here’s the kicker: she’s not just talking about it. She’s saying that legal action will be taken against the President’s move. That’s right, folks, lawsuits are on the table. This former Secretary to the Rivers State government under Governor Rotimi Amaechi has made it crystal clear that the situation in Rivers didn’t call for such drastic measures.

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Peace and Normalcy: The Real Priority

Cookey-Gam emphasized that the real focus should be on restoring peace and normalcy in Rivers State so that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly can return to their positions. Let me break it down for you. She believes that there were other ways to address the issues in the state without resorting to this kind of emergency declaration.

Now, here’s what she had to say verbatim: “Several options are available to persons directly affected by the exercise of the powers by the president and I believe that suits will be filed against the unconstitutional acts of the President.” That’s a bold statement, and it speaks volumes about the legal and political landscape in Nigeria right now.

And listen to this: “On the part of the citizens, there isn’t much that can be done, since the sole administrator has taken office. But in carrying out his responsibilities he has to be neutral, and he has to be unbiased. But if he starts tampering with structures, especially those recognized by the constitution, like tenured officers, then it becomes a problem for anybody who is watching the actions of the sole administrator.”

Temporary Measures with Long-Term Implications

She also pointed out that while the emergency rule is temporary, the goal should be to restore normalcy as quickly as possible. This is important because she believes that the situation in Rivers hadn’t deteriorated to the point where such a drastic move was necessary. “I believe he may necessarily have to have someone he calls the Secretary to the government to carry out some of his assignments. But the emergency rule is temporary, and what we would like to see is a situation where things come back to normalcy as quickly as possible.”

Her message is clear: this is a temporary measure, but it’s one that should not overstep its bounds. “Even though we believe that the problems in Rivers State had not gotten to the stage where we would have usurpation of powers of elected officials, but that is where we find ourselves now. In that situation, we expect things to be fast-tracked so that we come back to normalcy and we have our elected officials occupying the rightful positions, both the Governor, the Deputy Governor, and House of Assembly members.”

This is a conversation that’s worth following closely because it’s not just about Rivers State—it’s about the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and the balance of power in Nigeria. And that’s something that affects all of us.

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