Why Tinubu's Move In Rivers State Sparks Controversy

Why the PDP Thinks Tinubu Overstepped His Bounds

Listen up, folks. The People's Democratic Party (PDP) has come out swinging against President Bola Tinubu over his declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State. During a press conference held in Abuja on Wednesday, after an emergency session of the National Working Committee (NWC), PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, made it crystal clear: Tinubu doesn’t have the legal authority to oust Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, or the State House of Assembly. This isn’t just about politics; it’s about the rule of law.

Ologunagba laid it out plainly: the Nigerian Constitution doesn’t give the President the power to boot an elected governor during a state of emergency. He emphasized that this move tramples on democratic principles and undermines the very foundation of Nigeria’s governance structure. In his words, “There is no provision in the Nigerian Constitution that grants President Tinubu the authority to sack a duly elected governor, his deputy, or the State Assembly. This is a direct assault on democracy, and every Nigerian should stand up against it.”

What’s Really Behind the Rivers Crisis?

Now, here’s the kicker. The PDP isn’t just stopping at legalities; they’re pointing fingers at political motives. They argue that Tinubu’s declaration is more than just a response to a crisis—it’s a calculated move by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to justify an unconstitutional takeover of Rivers State. The party believes this crisis was manufactured to provide a convenient excuse for this kind of action.

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Ologunagba went further, accusing the President of misusing his power to weaken states controlled by opposition parties. He stated, “It’s becoming increasingly clear that the Rivers State crisis was fabricated to create a justification for this unconstitutional move. Tinubu is playing dirty by abusing his power to crush opposition and push for a one-party system. This is dangerous for our democracy.”

PDP Calls for Action from Key Institutions

But the PDP isn’t just sitting back and taking it. They’ve issued a call to action for key institutions to step in and stop this from spiraling out of control. First up, they’re urging the National Assembly to reject Tinubu’s declaration outright and prevent any unconstitutional removal of Governor Fubara. This isn’t just about Rivers State—it’s about setting a precedent for the entire country.

They’ve also turned to the Supreme Court, asking it to step in and uphold the Constitution by invalidating Tinubu’s decision. The PDP believes the judiciary has a crucial role to play in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic principles. Moreover, they’ve appealed to the international community to weigh in and defend Nigeria’s democratic institutions from what they see as a blatant abuse of power.

In their statement, they stressed, “This reckless misuse of power must be stopped in its tracks. Nigeria is a democracy, not a dictatorship. We’re calling on all defenders of democracy to rise up and reject this illegality.”

PDP’s Plan to Fight Back

The PDP isn’t backing down. They’ve vowed to explore every possible legal and political avenue to challenge the State of Emergency. Their goal is clear: ensure that democracy remains intact in Rivers State and across the nation. This isn’t just about politics; it’s about protecting the rights of Nigerians and preserving the integrity of the democratic process.

This controversy isn’t going away anytime soon, and the stakes are high. As the debate rages on, one thing is certain: the eyes of the nation—and the world—are on Nigeria. How this unfolds will have lasting implications for the future of democracy in the country.

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